revolut best travel card

 Get a 3 month Revolut Premium trial.  Click here

I’ve been traveling for almost 20 years, and until this year I hadn’t found a good spending solution.

I’m sure the stress (before I heard of Revolut) sounds familiar. For 20 years I went back and forth with:

Should I exchange money at the airport, or take money out from an ATM?

Why tf is my bank charging me so much more in exchange rate fees?

Wait, the bank charges a conversion fee AND an international transaction fee?!

I’d come to the conclusion that this was what it meant to be privledged to travel overseas – that you had to suck it up and eat the bank fees.

This past year though, I’ve traveled with Revolut in my wallet (both my phsical wallet, and my Apple wallet). And it’s saved me serious money.

Revolut is financial website and digital app used by 35+ million people, with the tools you need to easily spend, transfer, and protect your money overseas. You can set up accounts in multiple currencies, get a debit card for travel, and you can do it for no monthly fee on the Standard plan.

It’s quick to sign up for a standard account, and there is no monthly fee. If you click here you get a 3 month trial of Revolut premium (higher limits on ATM withdrawrals & currency exchange).

There are already a million Revolut reviews (spoiler – it’s trusted), so why bother writing another? Because the look of that sexy black metal card in my wallet ACTUALLY excites me.

So read on to get excited with me – Revolut is now the only way I spend my money. 

Revolut Travel Card Review: Why I Only Spend Money With Revolut

I’m so happy excited using revolut.

All photos in this post are of the metal card, only available on the Metal plan

I didn’t want to write about ‘just another travel card’ until I had very thoroughly tested it and finally found a permanent solution. So since May I have used my Revolut card in the UK, Greece, Spain, Australia, and Morocco.

It’s the best travel card I’ve had, has changed the way I spend money, and I do get a mini adrenalin kick whenever I see the exchange rate they charge me, and realize that I’ve just beaten the banks.

Though I do wonder if it really counts as saving if I buy another mojito with the extra cash?!

Here are 10 quick reasons to love Revolut before jumping into the full details:

• No monthly fee on Standard plan, paid plans available
• Can top-up and hold accounts in several currencies
• Make payments in 150+ countries
• Phsyical debit card
• Withdrawals at over 55,000 ATMs worldwide (Up to plan’s limits)
• Track your spending in the Revolut app
• Quick currency conversions for 30+ currencies
• Great value with the Revolut exchange rate
• Compatible with Google Pay and Apple Pay
• Fantastic security features for travelers

Who are Revolut?

Revolut is a British financial technology company who have built an amazing reputation since starting in 2015.

They offer banking and travel cards , with accounts for multiple currencies, and while these work the same as opening an account with a linked debit card with any other traditional bank, Revolut was specifically created to help you make the most of your money.

They have great features like instant accounts, and virtual cards, unlimited foreign exchange  (fees may apply outside of plan allowance), and cashback on specific purchases. You can convert currencies in an instant and load up to 30+ currencies on your travel money card, without having to exchange money at the airport again.

I’ve made cash withdrawrals in both Morocco, the UK, and Greece, on amazing exchange rates, basically as if my account was local.

After having put it to the test over the course of 6 months, Revolut has saved me a lot of money.

Withdrawing Money from ATMs

Spoiler: no fee withdrawals / great rates / find atms in the app.

When you open an account with Revolut , you instantly get access to virtual cards, which I linked to my Apple Wallet and was using to pay for things the next day (good reason to go through McDonalds for coffee – I needed to test Revolut!).

And I’ve paid for most things using my virtual Revolut card, including the London Tube, which I was incredibly impressed when I found I could just tap my phone on either end without having to fight with a ticket machine.

But despite most of the world being cash free, I still always stop by an ATM.

I’ve  always found I need cash at some point when I’m traveling. There’s always amazing street food, or someone to tip, or your phone battery dies because you’re using it 10 times more than at home, from taking 1,000 selfies, to constantly running Google maps.

And in many countries still, cash is king.

Withdrawing money from overseas ATMs can be expensive using a home bank card, and cost you a lot of money in fees.

But Revolut allows you to withdraw money from ATMs overseas without fees , within limits per month depending on the plan you’re on. I’ve taken money out in both Greece and Morocco, and it was stupidly easy.

Make sure you activate your card, set up your pin number, and turn ATM withdrawrals ON within the mobile app. If you don’t want to make ATM withdrawrals, you can turn this off, which is extra security in case your card is lost.

Pro tip: Within the mobile app is an ATM locator , which allows you to share your locaiton and it will find ATMs nearby.

Fees may apply outside of your plan allowance and ATM operator may charge their own fees.

Best Currency Exchange Rate

Spoiler: it beat the google exchange rate for me.

Revolut offers one of the best exchange rates around which is why they’re one of the most popular options for travel cards.

There’s even a currency converter  on their website (and in the app) where you can check the real exchange rate at that moment in time.

If you  really  want to get the most out of your money, you can set up multiple currency accounts, and convert your money to the local currency you plan to use when the exhange rate is at it’s best. This is called locking in your exchange rate.

Or, if you know it doesn’t really fluctuate too much, you can keep your money in your home currency account (AUD for me), and when you spend on Revolut, it converts your money based on the exchange rate of the day.

I personally leave my money in AUD because I find it simpler. Market exchange rates are changing all the time, almost every day, and I personally don’t find value in spending my time keeping an eye on the rates to decide when I’ll get the most of an exchange.

You can definitely do this, but I found I saved money all the same.

If you’re a digital nomad and you’re recieving payments in multiple currencies, Revolut accounts are also a great way to recieve money in foreign currencies without the crazy foreign currency fees, or PayPal exchange rates.

There is a weekend markup on exchange rates, so keep this in mind.

Track Your Spending in the Revolut App

The Revolut app is seriously good , and it’s very easy to track your spending, and do everything you need to do from your phone.

Keeping in mind that there is no traditional phone or in-branch banking with Revolut, everything is based off the app. Which is fortunately one of the easiest, most well thought-out and use intuitive apps I’ve used.

Through the app, you can see all of your individual transactions, and there are also instant spending notifications – alerts for transactions in and out of your account.

You can add money to your accounts, add new and exchange money between your currency accounts, access your currency converter, pull up your statements, set a monthly budget, set a spending limit on your cards.

If you’re spending one currency, and pulling it from your base currency account (ie me spending Euro in Europe, without having converted my AUD), each transaction shows you both the amount you spent in your currency, and the amount you spent in the foreign.

Choosing the Right Plan for You

Revolut standard – no fee.

The Revolut standard plan is fantastic, and doesn’t have monthly account fees. There are no fees for ATM withdrawals ($350/m limit), it comes with one debit card, and there are no currency exchange fees from Monday to Friday, to a $2,000 per month limit.

• Account fee – $0
• Australian ATM fee – $0 (up to $350/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that
• Foreign transaction fee – 0%- 1.5% (depending on amount and when the transfer is made)
• Overseas ATM fee – $0 (up to $350/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that

This is an account and card you can use at both home and abroad, with no catches or hidden fees if you use it within the above limits. 

It comes with a Revolut Visa card that connects to their app and your digital wallets, and you can spend money in over 150+ countries.

Honestly, this has everything you need if you want a basic no fills spending solution. But there are also paid plans you can consider, with some great extra features if they better suit your lifestyle.

Revolut Premium – Click here for a 3 month trial

• Account fee: $9.99/month
• Australian ATM fee: $0 (up to $700/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that
• Foreign transaction fee: 0%- 1.5% (depending on amount and when the transfer is made)
• Overseas ATM fee: $0 (up to $700/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that

With the Premium Revolut account, you pay a $9.99 AUD monthly account fee, and have benefits you don’t get with the standard account.

Premium users have transfers in 30+ major currencies up to a $20,000 monthly limit (Monday to Friday, otherwise an additional 1% fee is charged). The no-fee ATM withdrawal limit is also raised to $700 AUD.

You can choose the color of your Visa card, get priority customer support with the app, and can access disposable virtual cards for greater online security (these cards regenerate after every transaction keeping your card details safe).

You also get discounts to LoungeKey Passes which offer access to over 1,000 airport lounges around the world and can buy these within the app.

Click this link to get a 3 month trial of their premium account.

Revolut Metal – The Plan I’m On Personally

• Account fee: $24.99/month
• Australian ATM fee: $0 (up to $1,400/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that
• Foreign transaction fee: 0%-1% (depending on when the transfer is made)
• Overseas ATM fee: $0 (up to $1,400/month) and 2% of withdrawal amount after that

The Revolut Metal account has everything the Premium tier has to offer, but it does also come with a fancy Revolut Metal card. This is the plan I am personally on , and the Metal card is the card you see in my photos.

Metal users are also the only customers able to take advantage of the Revolut’s cashback feature. That includes 1% cashback for card payments made outside of Australia and 0.1% cashback for those made within Australia.

There is a cashback limit for metal plan, up to the cost of the plan.

Comparison of Revolut Account Plans

My travel spending and lifestyle might not be the same as yours, so do make your own decision about the plan which is right for you.

My recommendation:  Check out the standard account for yourself (or take advantage of the  premium trial while it lasts ) and then check out the paid options if you think an upgrade aligns with what you need.

This table is correct as of December 2023, but before deciding which account is right for you, I recommend you  go to the Revolut website to check if anything has changed.

I’ve been seriously impressed with Revolut’s security features , and this is not something I found mentioned in other online reviews, so I think it’s well worth writing about.

The Revolut mobile app is full of security you can tailor to your needs. While I open my online account on my browser with my passcode, I open the phone app using FaceID for extra security.

Their offer of disposable virtual cards for premium account users is fantastic. This is a single use virtual card for online shopping, which is good for one use, and then expires.

If you’re worried about entering your card details into a foreign computer while you’re traveling, or perhaps you’re forced to use public WiFi to buy something, you can use this disposable virtual card and not have to worry about exposing the main.

You can lock or freeze any cards whenever you need. And within each card settings, you have the option to tailor your card security to your needs, turning features on and off like online shopping, swipe payments, ATM withdrawrals, and contactless payments.

These security features  do  work , as the first time I tried to use my Revolut card, it declined my attempt at a contactless payment. I went into the settings, toggled contactless payments ON, and the payment then worked (check your card settings before you use).

I’ve also never had my account frozen or locked because I was spending in a foreign country, as most banks tend to do. That said, spending money overseas is the whole point of Revolut!

How to Sign Up

Offering an efficient foreign currency exchange service, no-fee ATM withdrawals, and no hidden fees when it comes to transfers, Revolut is baggage free!

Signing up to Revolut is all done via their app.

Click here and then you’ll provide your mobile number, name, address, and payment details (if you’re signing up for a Premium or Metal account).

Opening an account is instant, and you can then add money with your account details as you would by making any other domestic transfer.

Revolut will send the corresponding debit card to your given address, which you can then activate (remember to set up your security features) in the app before you start using it.

It’s that simple and easy!

My Australian credit cards have a terrible exchange rate, and have always charged me 3% per transaction overseas.

So now I exclusively travel with Revolut in my wallet.

Check out Revolut’s website to find out more and see if it’s right for you.

I’m home from my last trip and still have $62.07 sitting in my Revolut account. If I had come home with that in cash, I would have lost it to my jars of leftover foreign currency.

While I could transfer it back to my main bank, I’ll leave it sitting there knowing I’m using Revolut again , the next time I travel.

If You Liked This Post You May Also Like:

Things to Know about International Credit Card Payments

Should You Use a Debit Card or Credit Card When You’re Traveling?

How to be Smart When Spending Money Overseas

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind  Waking Up Wild ; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 100+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.

Charlie Schwab for us Amerikanski’s. Been using their debit across the world for 12 years. No fee ATM’s with unlimited rebates when machines charge, great currency conversion rates pretty much equal to the XE App

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Revolut Travel Card Review: Is Revolut Good For Traveling?

by Melissa Giroux | Last updated Dec 5, 2023 | Travel Finances , Travel Tips

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve probably already heard about the Revolut card. Revolut is a digital bank that was launched in 2015.

One of the main reasons it has gained so much popularity in such a small window of time is primarily due to the fact it has everything you would need from an online bank in a simple, modern, and easy-to-use app.

Before we do a complete Revolut review and how travelers can use the Revolut travel card abroad, let’s first look at the basics.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Revolut is good for traveling, especially if you choose a paid plan.
• You can use Revolut safely abroad, and you can block and unblock your card as much as you want. This can be helpful if you think an ATM or a shop seems a bit dodgy.
• The Revolut Premium and Metal plans offer travel medical insurance options and discounts on airport lounges, which are ideal for travelers.

Revolut Card: The Basics

Revolut has three different card types and four main plans, including Standard, Standard Plus, Premium, and Metal.

The Standard card has no fee and offers some basic benefits.

However, the Premium and Metal cards provide some exciting features, especially if you are a frequent traveler.

Here is a quick breakdown of the main benefits/prices of each of the cards:

**Revolut also has Revolut Business for companies, big and small, that do business beyond borders.  

Get Revolut Now

Another major advantage of the Revolut card is that it takes minutes to open an account.

All you need is a working phone number, and with that, you’ll be able to open an account and get a virtual bank card.

To get a physical card, you’ll need to order one, and it takes around 14 days to deliver. You will also need to veri f y your identity . 

One of the disadvantages of Revolut is that, at the moment, it isn’t available to residents of all countries.

Currently, only legal residents of the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, and the United States can download the online bank.  

Once you have your card and your identity is verified, you are ready to take full advantage of your Revolut card. This is where the fun begins.

If you are a meticulous traveler who loves planning and budget travel , then the Revolut travel card is the perfect solution for you.

Revolut Travel Card: Spending, Budgeting & Saving

The best part of the Revolut card is that the account section grants you the ability to look at all of your transactions by day, week, and even month.

You can also group transactions into specific categories. So, for example, if you budgeted 200 dollars for restaurants at X location for June, you can track all those costs in the app. 

You can also download statements, upload receipts and add notes to each transaction to keep track of your spending.

You can even split the bill if you are traveling with someone or send them money by scanning their QR code.

If you are traveling abroad, the app allows you to create multiple accounts in various currencies.

This means that you can exchange your US dollar for Euro and have two separate accounts in two different currencies.

This also means that whether you are traveling in France or the US, you can pay in the local currency. Be aware that not all currencies are currently available.

Nevertheless, if you are paying for something in a different currency, Revolut converts your account balance into the local currency using the real interbank exchange rate.

This allows you to avoid being charged a fee and a mediocre exchange rate set by the ATM provider or merchant acquirer.

Another great feature is that the app sends you a notification the second you pay with your card, even before the receipt has finished printing (as long as you are connected to the Internet).

The app also has vaults, where you can save money for travel . You can create multiple vaults, like a “travel to Egypt” vault or a “weekend spa getaway” vault.

You can fund the vaults with a one-time transfer, recurring transfer, or something the Revolut card calls spare change.

Spare change means the app will round up the spare change from your Revolut card spending and place it in this vault. 

Using Revolut Abroad

Can Revolut be used abroad? Yes! 

Now, you may be wondering “Is Revolut good for traveling?” It is!

I’ve been using Revolut abroad for a few years now, and it’s my go-to card.

So, how does Revolut work abroad?

With the Revolut travel card , you can transfer money abroad in 30+ currencies with the interbank exchange rate , with a small 0.5% fee for anything above €1,000 each month during the weekdays.

However, one disadvantage is that when markets are closed on the weekend, fees are charged at 0.5% and 1% on currency exchange rates no matter the transfer amount.

Revolut also charges an international fee, which will be listed in the payment breakdown when you are sending your money. 

The major advantage of Revolut is that it offers the ability to send money around without hidden fees and provides fast and secure money transfers.

The foreign exchange rate can be viewed on the Revolut app before exchanging currency or making a bank transfer involving foreign exchange.

The Revolut travel card also allows you to withdraw cash from an ATM using your Revolut card without fees.

The disadvantage of this is that if you have the standard plan, that means that you’ll only be able to take out 200 dollars per month. 

That being said, using a Revolut card abroad is fairly easy and safe.

Security: Preventing Fraud

One of the worst feelings in the world is realizing that your main travel card has been lost or cloned.

What usually ends up happening is a mad dash to call your main bank abroad to freeze the card and ask for a replacement.

Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. The problem is that some banks can take up to 3-4 weeks before they can send you a replacement card, which can ruin your time abroad. 

Revolut claims that it is 7x better than a regular bank in stopping card fraud. This is due to their anti-fraud system that helps keep fraudulent transactions under 0.01%.

But that’s not all. Revolut allows users to freeze and unfreeze their cards easily in the app, it takes seconds. 

You can also enable location-based security to reduce fraudulent transactions, disable contactless, online, swipe payments or even choose a monthly card spending limit for extra peace of mind.

And, if you do lose your card, you can order a replacement card in the app and ask for express delivery, which usually takes around 2-3 days, depending on your location.

Also, if you lose your phone, Revolut has an automated phone line to block your card instantly.

Extra Perks When Using Revolut Abroad

Although there aren’t many perks with the Standard and Standard Plus plans, if you are a frequent traveler, then you might consider opting for the Premium or Metal Plans. 

These plans have perks like pay-per-day travel medical insurance, which means that you can get location-trigger coverage and only pay for the days you use.

You can also upgrade for the delay and lost baggage insurance, emergency dental, and medical coverage, and even insure up to three adults and all your children. 

These plans also have lounge access to +1000 airport lounges globally and SmartDelay, which allows you to get an airport lounge pass if your flight is delayed more than an hour.

Get Revolut

Revolut Sign-Up Bonus Promotion

Upgrade to a global lifestyle with Revolut. Transform your finances when you level up to Premium with Revolut’s Premium trial .

You’ll get features to help you save, spend and invest smarter than ever.

Get a 3-month Revolut Premium subscription trial, effective today.

Note that this promotion work everywhere except for Australia and Singapore, where the offer is a cash bonus of $15 AUD in Australia and $15 SGD in Singapore.

All new Revolut customers are eligible.

Final Thoughts On Revolut Travel Card

It seems as if the Revolut card is the travel card of the future.

Not only can it be one of the best cards to use while you are abroad, but it also can be a great day-to-day bank card. 

Although the card has a lot of advantages, it is also important to note that there are still some countries where the card might not work.

For example, Revolut users have noted in previous years that the Revolut card didn’t work in many establishments in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Also, be wary that their online support service is not always the best, unlike your local bank.

If you do run into problems, there isn’t a physical location where you can go and talk with a manager. You’ll need to use the chat feature on the app, which can be better than having to call from abroad.

All in all, the Revolut card is a great card to travel with, but it shouldn’t replace your main bank card and instead might be a great backup card that you can use when abroad or if you’re a European expat.

If you’re American, read our Revolut USA review .

Read more about the best banking options for expats .

If you’re not sure if Revolut is the right card for you, you may want to open a multi-currency account with Wise . Learn more about Wise here or compare both Wise and Revolut .

If you want to keep cash flowing even while abroad, you must check out these ways to make money while traveling !

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Revolut Review: The pros, the cons, what it does, and what it’s not

This Revolut Review has been updated here .

I’m a pretty old school traveller, the kind that usually brings loads of cash on a trip. I still remember carrying S$3,000 worth of cash for my three-month solo backpacking trip around South America because I wanted to avoid getting crappy debit/credit card exchange rates! Yet it’s a pain exchanging money before a trip. Other than physically heading to a store somewhere, there’s the struggle of figuring out which money changer has the best rates.

Read also : Which Multi-Currency Travel Card is best for me?

When Revolut reached out to us to review their product, I thought it was a good idea to travel around Germany without any cash (ok I had maybe €2.8 of coins).

We’re not finance people, but we tried our best to experience it as a normal traveller and see what worked and what didn’t. Hopefully you’ll find this Revolut review useful!

Disclosure : While the writer was provided with spending allowance to test the card, it’s in The Travel Intern’s interest to protect the editorial integrity of our website. We have taken every reasonable effort to ensure a realistic and honest review for our readers. 

But first, what’s a Multi-Currency Travel Card?

The basic premise is that credit cards charge too much for currency exchange, and multi-currency travel cards try to level the playing field with better exchange rates (very close to the physical money changer). You can also typically hold multiple currencies in your account, allowing you to plan ahead and exchange money when the rates are more favourable. 

Revolut Review: How it works

Compared to many other multi-currency debit cards, Revolut has plenty of interesting features. Here’s an overview of the important stuff.

Main Revolut Features & Pricing Plans

Revolut Multi-currency Debit Card & Wallet Your Revolut card works like a debit card, and you can use it in any place that accepts Visa . Simply top-up using your debit/credit card, and you’re free to exchange and store up to 28 currencies in your multi-currency wallet. When you make a purchase, the card will automatically deduct from the relevant currency. If there are insufficient funds in that currency, it will automatically convert any leftovers from your other currencies, starting from your base currency (SGD in our case). This ensures that payment is always seamless as long as you have money in your account.

Revolut Budgeting Tools

Other than acting as a multi-currency wallet and overseas debit card, there are also budgeting and analytics tools on the App to make spending more organised. Revolut automatically categorises all your purchases instantly, making it easier to track and manage your expenses. You can even set monthly budgets by categories and easily tell when you overspend.

To make it more effortless in saving towards your goals, there is also a feature called  Vault  that can add your spare change into a savings vault. It does this by automatically rounding up your purchases to the nearest dollar and saving it in your account.

Revolut is free to use, but if you want even more features, there are three Revolut Visa cards with monthly subscription plans .

The paid Revolut Pricing Plans gives you a higher limit for ATM withdrawals, a lower currency exchange fee, priority customer support, nicer physical cards, and  LoungeKey  Pass access. The Metal Card also offers 1% cashback on overseas spending.

Interestingly, the paid Revolut cards also provide travel insurance coverage from Tokio Marine . They mainly cover: – Emergency Medical Treatment & Related Expenses with a maximum aggregate limit of S$10m per Policy – Emergency Dental Treatment up to S$2,000 – Delayed baggage cover up to S$200

Currency Exchange Rates & ATM Withdrawal

Currency Exchange Fees : 0-2.5% depending on membership and market hours Overseas ATM Withdrawal : Free up to S$350 (Standard), S$700 (Premium), S$1050 (Metal) every month, 2% Fair Usage Fee after

Currency Exchange Rates Revolut uses the real-time interbank mid-market rates to calculate currency exchange rates, which is really close to the rate you see on Google. The rate refreshes every few seconds, keeping it as close to the real-time rates.

The good thing about using a multi-currency wallet is that you can lock in favourable exchange rates ahead of time before you need it. Revolut allows you to pre-set auto-exchange targets , so you don’t have to monitor them constantly. Simply set your target and let the App do the rest. Alternatively, you can set up Price Alerts if you want to do it manually.

Currency Exchange Fees A  currency exchange fee  is charged based on a few factors — your membership level (standard, premium or metal card), amount you exchange each month, and London’s market hours. With Revolut, you are split into either a “Regular” or “High Frequency Standard” customer.

*High Frequency Standard rates are charged to standard users (free membership) who have exchanged  more than S$9,000 or equivalent in any rolling month.

Revolut also locks in the closing rate for the weekend (UTC) and charges more currency exchange fees to protect against market fluctuations when it’s closed. Here’s the breakdown:

Exchange Fees during market hours (UTC, Mon-Fri)

Exchange Fees after market hours (UTC, Sat-Sun, trading holidays)

Overseas ATM Withdrawals ATM withdrawal is free up to certain amounts depending on your membership level. Standard:  S$350/month Premium:  S$700/month Metal Card:  S$1050

A 2% usage fee is charged for amounts exceeding your limit but that shouldn’t be an issue when travelling in places where card payment is widely accepted.

Revolut Security Features Review

Easy control over security features What I especially loved about Revolut is the control you have over all the security features. If you happen to lose your card, you can deactivate your card temporarily Through the Revolut App . This temporary feature is great because I’m sure many of us have been in situations where we think we’ve lost our credit card, only to find them a few days later after going through the trouble of calling the bank and having it deactivated permanently. You can also easily toggle security features like location-based security, use of contactless payments, ATM withdrawals, online payments, or magnetic stripe usage. This means even if you lose it without realising, the card cannot be misused since the features only work when you activate them.

Disposable Virtual Cards For Premium  &  Metal  Card users, you create  Disposable Virtual Cards  — perfect for times when you need to make an online payment through a dodgy looking website.

According to Revolut, the Disposable Virtual Card will automatically be destroyed and a new one is generated each time an online payment is made. This reduces the risk of online credit card fraud since it can only be used once.

Card Limits You can also set your own spending limits in the App easily without going through the hassle of calling your bank and waiting forever for a customer service staff to answer your call.

User Experience

In general the App’s User Interface is clear and easy to use. Everything you need to do can be accessed within a few clicks from the Home Screen. Tutorials can also be easily accessed via the (i) icon at the top right of the App.

Revolut Review — Putting the Revolut Card to the Test

Having not exchanged any cash before the trip, reliability was a very important factor for me. Here are some common situations with the corresponding internet exchange rate to see how well Revolut fared. I used the Premium Card, which gave me some extra perks like being able to withdraw more money from the ATM at lower currency exchange fee.

(1) Using the Revolut Card for food, activities, and transport 

I used Revolut everywhere. At restaurants, paying for museum tickets, and even on the subway. While I generally always made sure I had Euros in my account, there were occasions where I put the exchange rates to the test by letting the account automatically convert from my remaining SGD.

ATTRACTIONS: BMW Museum Entrance x2 (27 Nov 2019) Revolut Exchange Rate SGD1 : EUR0.6653 Internet Exchange Rate (xe.com) SGD1 : EUR0.6658 Difference = – EUR 0.0005

ATTRACTIONS: Airport Transport x2 (28 Nov 2019) Revolut Exchange Rate SGD1 : EUR0.6647 Internet Exchange Rate (xe.com) SGD1 : EUR0.6650 Difference = – EUR 0.0003

ATTRACTIONS: Overseas ATM Withdrawal (26 Nov 2019) Revolut Exchange Rate SGD1 : EUR0.6646 Internet Exchange Rate (xe.com) SGD1 : EUR0.6649 Difference = – EUR 0.0003

The rates were pretty good and there was hardly any difference between Revolut’s Rate and the Internet’s Rate.

(2) Withdrawing Money from the ATM

Unfortunately there were still places that required cash. For those situations, I was able to draw cash at ATMs that accepted VISA.

Since I had already pre-exchanged Euros and have not exceeded my limit of S$700 for the Premium Card, there were no additional charges or surprises on the exchange rate. Pro-tip : Avoid tourist ATMs that charge a processing fee. I only encountered one during our trip to Germany, so I’m pretty sure you can just look for another ATM that does not charge extra.

(3) Testing the security features

Just to make sure everything worked as described, I decided to test a couple of the security features. For the main test, I basically deactivated the card and tried using it at a restaurant. The card didn’t work and I had to quickly activate it so I didn’t hold up the queue! I also tried withdrawing money after toggling ATM Withdrawal off. As expected, the card wouldn’t work!

Revolut Review — Pros, Cons, and Final Thoughts

All in all, the Revolut card worked as described. Despite not changing any cash beforehand, travelling around Germany with the Revolut card turned out pretty seamless. It might not be a replacement for credit cards but for its preferential currency exchange rates, it’s a pretty convenient option for overseas spending.

Pros – Works as described with good currency exchange rates – Robust security controls – Intuitive UI

Cons – Weekday/weekend Exchange Rates can be more obvious – Requires an Internet Connection for card management or top-ups – No credit card benefits

Quick Tips for Maximising your Revolut Card

(1) Use Auto-Exchange or Price Alerts to lock in exchange rates Plan ahead and utilise the in-app Auto Exchange or Price Alert features. If you know that you’re heading to Europe, set a target for auto-exchange rate so to lock in favourable rates! (2) Exchange currency on weekdays There’s an additional 0.5-1% surcharge on weekends. Unless you absolutely need to, I’ll try to do the bulk of my currency exchange on weekdays. (3) Monitor currency exchange rates. It refreshes really often If you hover around the currency exchange screen on the Revolut App, you will notice that the currency exchange rates fluctuate every few seconds. Monitoring it for a bit can score you a slightly more favourable exchange rate. Those extra dollars saved can go towards your travel fund! (4) Always make sure you have spare SGD in your account Despite using a local sim card with data, there were instances where there wasn’t any internet connection. To avoid being in a situation where you don’t have enough money in your account, plan ahead and top up more.

During my trip, I only exchanged enough Euros for our needs, while maintaining some spare SGD in my account. I wanted to avoid situations where I ran out of Euros and didn’t have internet connection to top up my card on the Revolut App, especially in smaller towns and rural areas!

As Germany and the rest of the world become more cashless, I can see how multi-currency debit cards like Revolut becoming an essential for overseas spending. It was honestly a joy bringing only a small card holder around instead of a bulky wallet!

If you’re planning on getting the Revolut Card, sign-up here for an additional S$5 bonus credit when you sign up. We get a small commission too so it’s win-win! Do note that you’ll need to complete the identity check, top-up the minimum sum, and order the FREE physical card for the S$5 bonus credit!

Hope you found this Revolut Review useful. Do let us know if you have any questions or suggestions to improve this review.

This post was brought to you by  Revolut .

For more travel inspiration, follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram , and  YouTube .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Travel Intern (@thetravelintern) on Jul 11, 2019 at 6:27am PDT

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I normally use Wise formally Transferwise. Does Revolute offer a better service in terms of security and value for money. Transferwise has always given fantastic exchange rates and VERY LOW fees. IS Revolute a better service?

Me too, I’m also interested to know the answer so i’m watching for a reply 🙂

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Revolut Travel Card Review – The Best Travel Money Card?

My Revolut card review is based on a year of using it in 10 different countries. Here's what I like about the Revolut travel card, what can be improved, and why I think you should consider it as a travel money card.

Revolut Travel Card Review

Have you ever noticed, that when it comes to getting hold of travel money you get ripped off no matter what you seem to do?

Whether it's your bank charging a fee you hadn't heard of before, or a crazy exchange rate that bears no relation to reality, they seem to get you in the end. And don't get me started on airport currency exchange rates!

Surely, there must be some way to get an honest currency exchange rate?

Well, there is now, thanks to the Revolut cash card .

We've been using the Revolut cards for a little over a year, and they were our main cards to get hold of travel money during our 5-month-trip in SE Asia. Here's an explanation of how the Revolut card works, and our honest review.

What is the Revolut account?

There's two ways to look at what the Revolut account is.

One, is to think of the Revolut account as a current account that can be easily managed through your mobile phone. The big bonus here being that you can store money in different currencies. They also provide banking details for different currencies which is great for me, as I can use it as a way to receive payments into my online business.

The second, and perhaps simplest way to think of the Revolut card for most people, is that it is a pre-paid travel card. You can make transfers into the Revolut card from your bank account, and then convert it into any currency you like (well, within reason).

The truth is, it's both things, and offers a great deal of flexibility for anyone wanting to store different currencies, or who has travel plans.

The Revolut Card itself

The Revolut account comes with a card, either Visa or Mastercard, which you can use as a debit card for purchases, or for ATM withdrawals.

As we opened our accounts a year ago, I can't honestly remember if we had a choice between the two, or were given what came. However it was, I have a Visa Revolut Card, and Vanessa has a Revolut Mastercard.

The Revolut card acts as a debit card, and you can only withdraw or spend money that is available in the account. You can easily monitor the account in the Revolut app you'll need to download to a smartphone.

You can apply for a Revolut card here : Get Revolut Card

Opening a Revolut account is really straightforward and quick. You will need to provide your address and passport, and you will be sent your card in the post in a few days.

The Revolut App

The app is where you can monitor the holdings in your Revolut account. After transferring money in, you can leave it in its original currency, or exchange it straight away.

The app is very simple to use, and if you have an internet connection, will even give you real time updates when you withdraw money or spend money on the card.

Why should I open a Revolut account?

People who travel a lot can really benefit from a Revolut account, as it offers a very easy way to spend money abroad. You can send money from your primary bank account to your Revolut account, and then use your Revolut card the same way you would use any other card.

The main difference when using a Revolut card vs a bank card, is that the rate offered is interbank exchange rate, i.e. a fair rate. Depending on your bank and the type of card you have with them, you will probably discover that a Revolut card gives you a much better exchange rate, and smaller handling fees.

Why a Revolut Card was best for Vanessa

In Vanessa’s case, every Greek bank has its own policy when withdrawing or spending money abroad. Revolut rates and handling fees were much better than any of the four Greek banks she asked, for debit as well as credit cards.

Additionally, most of the Greek banks clearly stated that, even when a customer informed them in advance that they would travel abroad for an extended period of time, they could still deactivate the card if they noticed “suspicious activity” and couldn’t get in touch with the customer via the registered phone number.

Therefore, Revolut was really the easiest way to spend money abroad.

Why a Revolut Account was almost the best for Dave

In my case, I have a Halifax Clarity card from the UK. This card gives a perfect exchange rate with no fees, in a similar fashion to Revolut. What makes the Clarity card a winner over Revolut for me, is I can withdraw an unlimited amount of cash without additional fees. 

The downside to my Halifax card, is that I have to pay the amount off the same day using my online banking app in order to avoid interest charges. This is a pain, especially when travelling countries with poor connection!

So, I found the Revolut card to be a useful addition to my ‘travel toolkit', and of course it's always good to have multiple cards just in case when you travel!

How much does it cost to open a Revolut account?

We found it quite hard to believe, but opening a basic Revolut account is totally free of charge. This includes the card itself, which is perhaps what separates Revolut from other pre-paid travel cards.

OK, so what's the catch?

Well, nothing is ever entirely perfect, right?!

If you go for the basic (free) version of Revolut, you can withdraw up to 200 pounds or euro per month for free at ATMs, while for any excess there will be a fee of 2%.

However, you can still use the Revolut card as a debit card, and there are no Revolut card fees for amounts of up to 6,000 euro a month.

Revolut Card Fees

Apart from the free basic version, there are two types of upgrades that you can look into.

These are definitely worth it, especially for people travelling often for up to 40 continuous days.

If you choose any of the “premium” or “metal” upgrades, you will get a higher withdrawal limit (400 euro and 600 euro, respectively).

Many other perks, such as travel and medical insurance and a few others, are also included. In our case, travelling for five months, this wasn’t applicable, so we just went with the basic free version of Revolut which suited us just fine.

Why do you need a mobile phone to use the Revolut card?

Technically speaking, as soon as you apply to get your Revolut plastic card, you don’t really need to use a phone in order to spend your money. However, the phone is essential in order to monitor your transactions, and it’s also the only way to manually exchange money from one currency to another.

As an example, if you have GBP stored in your Revolut account and expect the GBP to drop vs the Euro, you can convert all your GBPs into Euros.

All transactions with your card are recorded instantly on the app, and you will always get an instant notification as soon as you make a payment, or whenever you are online next. We often received the notification before getting the paper receipt!

The phone is also necessary if you want to send money to a friend, transfer money to the Revolut account from another account, or vice versa.

Finally, if you need to freeze your card, it is easy to do it through the app. So if your card is stolen, lost or misplaced, you can quickly freeze it and request a new one.

Revolut and cryptocurrencies

People who are using cryptocurrencies will be pleased to know that Revolut can currently be used with Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum and XRP.

However, I personally don't think this is worth it right now, as you can't transfer in crypto from outside wallets. The day that happens, Revolut will be truly revolutionary!

Our experience with the Revolut card

Quite honestly, we can’t recommend the Revolut card highly enough. We had both a Mastercard and a Visa during our trip, and we used both of them interchangeably.

In our five months of travelling to countries such as Myanmar , Vietnam , Thailand and Singapore , there were only 2 instances where our card was rejected when trying to pay by debit card. 

As for ATMs, some of them didn’t accept a Mastercard, so we used the Visa instead – but that has nothing to do with Revolut itself.

At one point, we had to get in touch with customer service – this was all through the app, and it was quick and easy. It turned out that there was a glitch in the system at that time, and they promised to fix it soon, which they did. So, 5 stars for customer experience!

While it was a little frustrating to have to pay the 2% fee for ATM withdrawals of over 200 euro a month, it was still very little compared to any Greek ATM card. And the amount of times we did that was still cheaper than paying the monthly fee. And a LOT cheaper than using airport currency changers!

Overall, we totally suggest that you get a Revolut card, even if you don’t travel too often – it’s free, it’s generally accepted everywhere, and it’s hassle free.

Related posts on saving money when traveling:

• Money in Greece
• How much does it cost to cycle around the world
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• Travel budget for a bike tour in Europe

3 thoughts on “Revolut Travel Card Review – The Best Travel Money Card?”

It’s a prepaid card Writing on the back Some car rental will not accept prepaid card

Beside that Great

Hello dave,

Obviously you are one of the lucky ones who did not have any problems during your travel.

Think of all the other customers of revolut bank who have their accounts locked during their travel. And have no access to their accounts.

And also think about the customers who have problems with transferring money that are missing or take too long to access their monies.

Think of the customers who are having problems accessing their live agents with poor customer services.

I can only write about my experiences, and so far they have all been positive. Like every bank, product or service there’s going to be people who have negative experiences, and it sounds like you are one of those. I hope whatever went wrong was resolved for you!

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Best Travel Cards: Revolut vs Curve Comparision

In an era where global travel is commonplace, the efficiency of managing finances abroad is a key concern. Choosing the right travel card, like Revolut or Curve, can make a significant difference in terms of costs and convenience. These cards offer unique features, but understanding their fee structures, especially during weekends versus weekdays, is crucial for travelers.

Table of Contents

Revolut’s Travel Card Features

Revolut stands out for its competitive edge in international spending. Here’s a closer look at its fee structure:

• Currency Exchange Rates : Revolut offers interbank exchange rates. However, during weekends (Friday 23:59 – Sunday 23:59), a markup ranging from 0.5% to 1.5% is added to major currencies to account for market fluctuations.
• Withdrawal Limits : Free ATM withdrawals are limited to a certain amount per month (e.g., £200). Beyond this, a 2% fee is applied.
• Weekday vs. Weekend Fees : For transactions during weekdays, Revolut applies the real exchange rate without additional fees for most currencies. On weekends, as mentioned, a markup is added.

Curve’s Travel Card Features

Curve offers a straightforward approach with a focus on flexibility. Here’s how their fees are structured:

• Dynamic Currency Conversion : Curve offers currency conversion at the Mastercard wholesale rate. A 2% fee applies if the transaction involves a currency not held in the account.
• Real-Time Notifications : Curve provides instant notifications, including details on currency conversion rates.
• Weekday vs. Weekend Fees : Curve applies the Mastercard wholesale rate without additional fees on weekdays. However, for weekends, there’s a surcharge of 0.5% to 1.5% on foreign transactions, similar to Revolut.

Additional Benefits and Considerations

When choosing a travel card, it’s important to consider more than just the fees and exchange rates. Here’s how Revolut and Curve stack up in terms of extra benefits and security features.

Revolut’s Extra Benefits

• Rewards and Perks : Revolut offers cashback rewards and discounts with various global partners, enhancing the value for frequent travelers.
• Travel Insurance : Comprehensive travel insurance coverage is included with premium accounts.
• Security Features : Features like card freeze/unfreeze, location-based security, and customizable spending limits add an extra layer of security.

Curve’s Extra Benefits

• All Your Cards in One : Curve allows you to link multiple bank cards, simplifying your wallet and making it easier to manage different accounts while traveling.
• Curve Cash : Offers cashback at selected retailers.
• Enhanced Security : Real-time alerts and the ability to instantly lock your card from the app provide peace of mind.

Conclusion: Choosing Your Ideal Travel Card

In conclusion, both Revolut and Curve offer compelling features for international travelers. Revolut stands out for its competitive exchange rates and comprehensive travel insurance, while Curve excels in simplifying card management and providing flexible security options.

Your choice ultimately depends on your specific travel habits and financial needs. Consider the following when making your decision:

• Fee Structure : Are you a frequent traveler who needs the best exchange rates without worrying about weekend markups? Revolut might be your go-to. However, if you prefer a more straightforward approach with fewer surcharges, Curve could be more suitable.
• Travel Frequency and Spending Habits : If you travel often and spend significantly, Revolut’s cashback rewards and insurance benefits can add value. For those who prefer a more minimalistic approach, Curve’s ease of use and card consolidation feature may be more appealing.
• Security and Management : Both cards offer robust security features, but Curve’s unique ability to consolidate multiple cards offers a different kind of convenience.

Whatever your choice, ensure it aligns with your travel lifestyle and financial goals. Both Revolut and Curve are strong contenders in the travel card market, each with their own set of advantages.

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Revolut review – Is it still worth it?

Our rating:

As editor of Money Saving Answers, I discuss Revolut in a number of our travel articles. It stands out as one of the best cards for foreign travel . 

Despite me personally using Revolut since 2016, neither myself nor the team at Money Saving Answers have ever written a complete review. Today I’m going to change that which my personal Revolut review. 

Revolut review – Pros and Cons

What is revolut.

At its core Revolut is a digital banking service offering borderless multicurrency accounts, and frictionless currency exchanges. It can be used as a main bank account to receive your salary or pay bills, direct debits and standing orders, but where it really shines is currency exchange and foreign travel.

Founded in London in 2015, Revolut started as a prepaid travel card similar to that of the former TravelEx Supercard . I remember using the card in Ireland in 2016, and was impressed by the speed at which the spending notifications popped on my phone even before the cashier had handed me a receipt.  

Since then, Revolut has expanded its services and is no longer a pure prepaid travel card, but a digital account that covers ‘ all things money .’ It has over 25 million customers worldwide, and operates in over 20 countries. 

Is Revolut a bank?

Yes, and no. It is a fully licenced bank in the EU, and has applied for a banking licence in the UK, and a bank charter in the USA. 

Interestingly, it doesn’t look likely to be granted a UK banking licence anytime soon. It originally applied in January 2021, but since then has had a number setbacks, the latest being it’s company accounts which as of January 2023 were seven months overdue. 

Who is Revolut for?

Revolut can be used in many of the same ways you’d use a normal bank account from the likes of Barclays, Santander etc… but I’d argue that’s mainly for people who want to save money when either travelling abroad, spending in foreign currencies, or exchange money without the exorbitant fees or poor rates offered on the highstreet. 

That might be digital nomads (or which there are around 2.4m Brits), Frequent travellers, foreign home owners, students taking a semester abroad, those with friends and family abroad etc. the list is endless. 

Revolut fees and plans

Revolut offers four different price plans:

• Standard – free
• Plus – £2.99 
• Premium – £6.99
• Metal – £9.99

The difference between standard and plus is mostly the fees and limits involved when using various Revolut services. Metal and Premium step this up and include travel insurance, airport lounge discounts, and other benefits. In this article though I’m mainly going to focus on the free standard plan, as that the one most will opt for. 

Fees and limits

Revolut is generally open and upfront about its fees, but there are still a few gotchas around, especially for those on the free standard plan. 

Firstly, you can exchange foreign currency fee-free up to your £1,000 fair use allowance. After that you’ll be charged 1%.

Local payments i.e., those in the UK in GBP are always free, as are transfers to other Revolut users, and bank accounts within the Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA).

On weekends, Revolut adds a 1-2% (depending on currency) mark-up on currency exchanges to cover any movement in the exchange rate when FX-markets are closed. Try to avoid exchanging any currency during these times if you can. 

Revolut ATM limits and fees

ATM withdrawals are free up to £200 per 30 day period, and up to 5 withdrawals. After this there is a 2% fee with a minimum of £1. Those who need more can withdraw up to £3,000 equivalent per day, which is the highest limit we’ve seen amongst any card. It will cost though. At 2% you’ll be charged £20 for every £1,000. 

Casual users should be able to avoid most of the fees, especially given the prevalence of contactless payments in popular holiday destinations. 

Those relying on cash, or travelling for extended period (or with a family), are likely to run into the fair use fee, and the ATM withdrawal fee. 

Exceeding the free ATM withdrawal limit catapults Revolut from one of the cheapest cards around to one that should be avoided. If you’re a heavy cash user then Starling or Chase would be better, as although the maximum daily limit is lower, you won’t be charged for withdrawals. 

Revolut prepaid card(s)

On joining Revolut you are given a free virtual card. This can be used for online, and point of sale transactions (via ApplePay or GooglePay) in either GBP or a foreign currency. 

You can also have a free physical card, but you might need to pay a delivery free of £5. Often this is waived though. 

There’s also a disposable card. This is designed for online shopping where you may not fully trust the website to store your details. On each use the card is destroyed, and replaced with a new one. Refunds still make their way to your Revolut account, but retailers cannot charge the card again. 

This is a great security feature, that I’ve found especially useful in taking advantage of free trials that require card details to be entered. 

Another useful feature for travellers is the mix of Visa and Mastercard products. The physical and disposable cards are Visa debit, while the virtual card is a Mastercard debit. It’s rare that stores won’t accept both, but it has happened to me on my travels that my Mastercards were rejected whereas Visa cards went through fine. 

The Revolut app

The Revolut app has grown over the years to encompass the company’s ‘ all things money ’ strategy. And while it offers a number of great features, I have found it has become quite bloated. 

It’s still quick and easy enough to use, and shouldn’t cause anyone any problems, but the interface is a little busy for my tastes.

It makes heavy use of icons, which is fine, but the sheer number of products and services means some things can get lost in the clutter. 

When I open a banking app, I expect my money to be the main focus of the app. Revolut does show your balance when opening the app, but only in one currency. If you have balances in other currencies you have to click on a little drop down arrow to switch.

If you want to total up how much you have in your account across all currencies, you need to scroll down towards the bottom of the page past Revolut’s suggestions and cashback offers, and analytics to see your ‘net worth’ as it’s called in the app.

Adding money and transferring money options are right there up top which is great, but the option to exchange money is hidden away under a sub-menu. I find this strange as the main benefit of Revolut over other neo banks is the currency exchange feature. 

I’d really like to see that exchange button next to the ‘add money’ and ‘transfer money’ options. 

By default, the home screen shows just a single recent transaction, with the option of clicking ‘See all’ to access more. I’d like to see more transactions listed here. Instead, the bottom third of the screen is taken up by suggestions of things Revolut thinks you might be interested in. It’s basically just advertising for Revolut’s other services. 

Overall, the app is fast and functional, with most options available in one or two clicks, but with so much going on, some ability to customise at least the Home Screen would be a welcome addition.

How to open a Revolut account and get 3 months free premium

Signing up to Revolut takes less than 5 minutes, and because Revolut isn’t a bank, you don’t need to jump through as many hoops as you do with some accounts. There are no credit checks, and you don’t even need proof of address. 

For those reasons, it’s also a great first account for those new to the UK. And in some cases your Revolut account statement, can be used as proof of address when opening accounts elsewhere such as Virgin’s M account. See out guide on basic bank accounts for more information on this. 

Steps to open a Revolut account

If you sign up to Revolut via the link here , you’ll get three months of Premium for free. That includes free travel insurance so it is definitely worth it if you are travelling within the next few months. 

Download the app by clicking our link and using the QR code.

Sign up for an account: Open the app and select “Sign up”. You’ll be asked to provide some personal information, such as your name, email address, and phone number.

Verify your identity: Revolut uses a secure process to verify your identity, which typically involves taking a photo of your passport or driving licence, and a selfie.

Add a funding source: To start using your Revolut account, you’ll need to add a funding source or top up your account. You can do this by linking your bank account or debit/credit card, or via ApplePay and GooglePay.

Activate your card: Once you’ve completed the sign-up process and chosen your plan, you can order your Revolut card. You can choose between a physical or virtual card, and it will be delivered to you within a few days.

Revolut Crypto fees

Revolut launched its cryptocurrency platform in 2018. It allows all Revolut customers to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies in-app. The fees for which depend on the subscription held.

• Standard and Plus users – 1.99% of the value of the transaction or £0.99 whichever is greater
• Premium and Metal users – 1.49%

Standard and Plus users should also bear in mind that crypto exchanges count towards their £1,000 monthly fair usage limit. 

I tested the platform back in 2018 amidst the Bitcoin hype. It was easier to use and understand than a dedicated crypto exchange, and used the same familiar interface you get when exchanging foreign currency. 

The fact that I had money sitting in my Revolut account at the time, made it quick and easy buy a few fractions of BTC or XRP or whatever I dabbled in at the time. 

The only drawback I found came later, when I wanted to move my crypto to an external wallet. It just wasn’t possible. Fortunately, that has now changed and you can move your crypto assets to other wallets or cold storage. 

Obviously, it’s not as detailed or full featured as dedicated crypto exchange, but it’s this simplicity that makes it great for those who are curious to learn more about crypto in general. 

Revolut vs Wise

Revolut is by far the most popular multicurrency card, but it’s not the only game town. Wise (formerly Transferwise) also has a large following. 

Both offer free multicurrency accounts with debit cards. Both can be used a bank accounts if you wish to have your salary paid into them, or set up direct debits and standing orders. There are some key differences though. 

Wise focuses on low fees, while Revolut focuses on versatility. That doesn’t mean Wise is cheaper though. In fact, in the exchanges I have conducted Revolut always won out. 

There are caveats to that though. Both use the midmarket rate for currency exchanges but and for 15 of the most common currencies Revolut is cheaper as it doesn’t charge a fee, provided you stay within the fair use policy of your plan (which for the free plan is £1,000 a month). 

Wise does charge a free, but it’s up front and transparent about this. Where is beats Revolut is on exchanges in more exotic currencies where Revolut adds a 1% mark up, and on exchanges outside of market hours, which can incur as much as a 2% mark up. 

In terms of the debit cards, Revolut edges out Wise. Both allow spending in over 150 currencies, but Revolut customers on the free standard plan withdraw up to £200 a month fee free (in one go), whereas Wise offers two free ATM withdrawals of just £100 each, then charges up to 2% thereafter. 

Bearing in mind that my experience with Wise is limited to a few small transfers in testing and a few card transactions. It is a popular card in its own right especially amongst ex-pats and is said to be better with dealing with transfers to the USA. 

Chase vs Revolut

It may seem odd to compare Chase and Revolut, but in terms of spending abroad, they both perform a similar function. The main difference is that Revolut offers in-app currency exchange and foreign bank transfers in over 15 different currencies, and spending in over 150. Chase doesn’t yet offer international transfers, nor does it offer a currency exchange function. 

In terms of holiday spending, Chase is the clear winner. Both offer fee free point of sale spending aboard, but when it comes to ATM withdrawals it’s a different story.

The free Revolut account limits monthly ATM withdrawals to just £200 equivalent. Withdrawals over this amount are charged a 2% fee. Foreign ATM withdrawals via Chase, are limited to £1,500 a month, with a maximum daily amount of £500. In addition, Chase users visiting the USA can use Chase ATMs to avoid and ATM fees charged by the foreign bank. 

That’s not all though, Chase previously offered 1% cashback on spending via its debit card even when abroad. It has now amended this offer. Customers can still earn 1% cashback on spending, but must deposit at least £500 a month into their account. The cashback is also now limited to £15 a month. 

Is Revolut safe?

In the UK Revolut is not a bank, it’s an e-money institution. Although it is still regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, it isn’t part of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. 

Instead, customer deposits are ring-fenced at Barclays and Lloyds, and cannot be used by Revolut for its own business activities. This provides a good degree of protection should anything happen to the company, but isn’t as iron-clad as full FSCS protection. 

Additionally, Revolut isn’t signatory to the voluntary Contingent Reimbursement Model Scheme (CRM) , and has receive criticism in the past for refusing to reimburse victims of fraud where seemingly authorised payments were made. 

This is something that has been highlighted recently on the BBC, as a few victims of this type of authorised fraud have had trouble claiming anything back from Revolut. 

Is Revolut still worth it?

With the growth in digital banking and increased competition across the ‘travel money’ sector, I must admit I don’t find myself using Revolut anywhere near as much as I did in the past. 

That being said, there still many reasons to love Revolut. For one, it’s just so quick and easy. Exchanges are simple, and transfers to euro accounts are always via SEPA instant, which isn’t something that can be said for Starling. It also has a ton of services and features that just available from any other UK bank or fintech. Cryptocurrency and commodities investing for example right there in the same app. Shared vaults, group bills etc..

It’s also constantly innovating and adding new features. Many of these features aren’t just limited to Premium members either, but available to all account holders. An example of this is the virtual disposable card, which is great for online shopping security. A Premium feature on Monzo, but included in free standard plan for Revolut customers. 

For mainstream currencies it’s cheaper than Wise for the most part, and wins out as a travel card against Currensea (see our Revolut vs Currensea article) provided you can live within the tight limits of the free standard account. A top foreign travel credit or debit card, such as the Barclaycard Rewards, or Starling debit card still better for day-to-day spending abroad though. 

It’s not all positive though. Critical support is abysmal, you can’t actually talk to human. There’s also the question of fees. The standard plan is free, but only to a point. The fees for going over what are quite small allowances can add up if you aren’t careful, and on top of these, you can be hit by out-of-hours fees on currency exchanges. 

The company and its management are also questionable. It has been involved in a number of scandals over the years, from a culture of bullying, to disabling money laundering checks .

The latest negative headlines centre around the lack of support for victim of fraud where seemingly ‘authorised’ transactions were made. It was also more than 7 months late filing its annual accounts . Not something you expect from a would-be bank.  

Fortunately, the vast majority of customers remain unaffected by these incidents, but it certainly doesn’t help public perception, especially in an age where banks are increasingly adopting a more ethical stance. See Kroo for example. 

As a long-time account holder, my opinion is that Revolut certainly has its benefits, and although I’m not thrilled about its corporate governance, or public image, I do still see a use case for it in certain circumstances. In particular for currency exchange and transfers to foreign accounts. Always making sure never to leave large sums of money in the account for any length of time due to the lack of FSCS protection. 

Got a Revolut story? Good or bad, we’re keen to hear your experiences.

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7 Honest Reasons Why Revolut is the Best Travel Card in 2024 (A Review of the Prepaid Travel Card)

• Post last modified: Updated on March 19, 2024
• by Post author: Michael Smulian

If you’re looking for the best prepaid card to travel with in 2024, Revolut has it all, and more! Get FREE ATM withdrawals around the world and buy foreign exchange at the cheapest rates.

It feels like an eternity ago since our first Revolut card was delivered in the post. To be honest, we tried several other mobile bank cards including Bunq, Monese, Starling, Monzo, and N26. We simply couldn’t be sure which one was the best. We had to try them all.

Since then, we’ve travelled the world and used this time to try every nook and cranny of the Revolut app . And after a year, we came to the conclusion that Revolut is simply the best travel card we’ve ever used.

This review covers why the Revolut travel card is better than it’s competitors. It also lists 7 honest reasons why you should never travel again without ordering your free travel card today.

We’ll also throw in 3 months of Revolut Premium for free. So you can try out the best travel card for yourself.

In this guide

What is revolut and how does the travel card work, 1. free prepaid card with no hidden fees, 2. get the best exchange rate and pay zero commission, 3. free and easy to top up your revolut prepaid card, 4. free worldwide atm withdrawals, 5. exchange and hold up to 36 currencies with no commission, 6. spend in 136 currencies, 7. your money is safe with the revolut app, unlock more benefits with revolut paid plans, 1. live chat customer support response time, 2. no credit card top up, 3. limited ways on how to contact revolut, revolut alternatives, wrapping things up.

If you’ve heard of Revolut, you can move right along. Your time should be spent in the next sections finding out why you should get the best travel card.

But if you’ve never heard of it or you’re wondering how does Revolut work, we’ll be happy to enlighten you.

Revolut claim to be a Fintech company that offers banking services in several countries across the world.

We figured they don’t call themselves a bank because they don’t actually have any branches where you can walk into. The magic happens in the Revolut mobile app which is how you manage your money.

We’d personally like to think of Revolut as a mobile bank that truly is, as they claim, radically better.

They offer a prepaid travel card jam packed with amazing features, which we can’t wait to fill you in on. You’ll receive a Visa or Mastercard and get to manage everything from spending to withdrawals all from the app.

Let’s jump straight into what you get with the Revolut travel card.

Note: You can access the full list of countries where you can get a Revolut card here.

Revolut Travel Card Review: Why You Need to Get the Best Travel Card

The moment of truth has finally arrived! Here’s why you should get the Revolut travel card today. You can thank us later.

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Why pay bank fees when you don’t have to?

You get a free card with Revolut’s transparent standard pricing plan . It’s not the first mobile bank to offer free stuff and certainly won’t be the last. This is simply how they attract customers.

But what really sets Revolut apart vs mobile banks such as N26, is that you’re getting a lot more value. And it’s absolutely free!

Here’s what you’ll get for FREE with a Revolut travel card on the standard plan:

• Free local bank account (Euro IBAN for EEA residents)
• Spend in 136 currencies at the interbank exchange rate
• Exchange in 36 currencies up to £1,000 / €1,000 / $1,000 / A$2,000 per month with no commission
• Free International ATM withdrawals up to £200 / €200 / $400 (Out-of-Network ATMs) / A$350 per month

Just stick to these limits when you travel and you’ll never have to pay any bank fees again.

The best way to stick to these limits is to budget. We always estimate our travel costs to make sure we don’t over spend and pay any fees.

Tip: If you’re travelling in a group or as a couple, you should each consider getting a Revolut travel card. You’ll increase your limits if you spend collectively.

Note: The interbank exchange rate is what banks use to swap or exchange currencies. It’s a real-time or live rate, which is why it is constantly changing in the Revolut app.

If you’re travelling abroad, you’ll likely need foreign currency to fund those excursions and new experiences.

With Revolut you can now exchange currencies in the Revolut app at the real interbank exchange rate. That’s like getting the same rate you see on Google or on apps such as XE .

Yeah, you read that right! Don’t believe us? See for yourself!

If you need foreign currency (Forex) for your travels, simply exchange currency in the app to lock in the best rate. Just bear in mind that Revolut charges fixed rates when exchanging currency on weekends. So that’s between 5pm New York time on Friday and 6pm New York time on Sunday. Keep reading to learn how to buy Forex on the app.

Useful Tip: To guarantee the best rates and avoid foreign transaction fees, only exchange currencies on weekdays between 6pm New York time on Sunday and 5pm New York time on Friday. Check the current time in New York .

Note: Exchanging currency on the weekend or if you’ve exceeded your exchange limit on the Standard Plan will incur an extra 1% fee (0.5% on the Plus Plan). But we can assure you that these are still the best rates you’ll find anywhere even if you have to exchange on the weekend. You can find more information about Revolut exchange rates here.

Saving money with Revolut sounds awesome, but how exactly do you buy Forex for travel with your local currency?

You get a free prepaid debit card with your Revolut account. Depending on where you live, you may either get a Mastercard, Visa card, or Maestro card.

As Revolut doesn’t have any branches (remember, it’s a mobile bank), you’ll have to load your Revolut card using your existing bank account. Luckily, there are several ways you can add money to your Revolut account.

The easiest way to top up your Revolut card is by using a debit card. Simply add your card details in the Revolut app, insert an amount, submit and your funds will appear instantly.

You can top up your Revolut account using a debit card in 17 different currencies. Revolut adds new currencies from time to time, but here is the list of currencies they currently support:

• AUD – Australia
• BGN – Bulgaria
• CAD – Canada
• CHF – Switzerland
• CZK – Czech Republic
• DKK – Denmark
• GBP – United Kingdom
• HKD – Hong Kong
• HUF – Hungaria
• JPY – Japan
• NOK – Norway
• PLN – Poland
• RON – Romania
• SEK – Sweden
• ZAR – South Africa

To get the most out of your Revolut travel card, top up with a debit card as it is usually free. Depending on the currency, they may add a fee of about 2%. But this will be clearly indicated before you confirm the top up.

Revolut fees are always displayed in the app before you top up, so you always know what you’re paying.

💡 Bonus Tip: To avoid paying conversion fees on your debit card, top up in your local currency. In other words, if your card is in USD, load your Revolut card in USD.

Note: You can also add money using bank transfer, with cash or cheque, and with Apple Pay or Google Pay. You can find more information about how to top up to your Revolut card here.

Save Me For Later

If you’re loving the top 3 tips, tip #4 is the cherry on top. Free cash withdrawals!

Revolut gives you free ATM withdrawals up to the equivalent of £200 per month on the standard plan. It’s €200 if you live in the European Economic Area (EEA), $400 at Out-of-Network ATMs for Revolut card holders living in the USA , and A$350 for residents of Australia .

These limits seem to be the same compared to what other mobile banks offer with their free cards. So it’s not quite enough to classify it as the best travel card.

But Revolut makes their deal a whole lot sweeter. Their travel card includes worldwide withdrawals in their ATM limit, giving you access to your money abroad.

This means that you can also withdraw foreign currency to the equivalent of the monthly ATM withdrawal limit (£200, €200, $400, A$350).

And what’s really cool is that you can monitor your monthly ATM withdrawal limit balance all in the Revolut app. It’s really a great way to stay on top of your limits.

Just be wary of cash machine operators. Some of them may charge you an extra withdrawal fee on top of the normal fees. Luckily, these charges are usually displayed on the screen before you accept.

Knowing which ATM to use will certainly save you a ton of money on your travels. Simply check out the Revolut Community to search for a list of ATMs that don’t charge any fees.

Useful Tip: If you’re withdrawing Forex, make sure you calculate the amount in your local currency before heading to the ATM. Or you may go over your free limit and pay a 2% withdrawal fee above this amount.

While we love travelling the world, we hate the thought of having to buy Forex before our trips. But with Revolut, you can exchange and hold 36 different currencies all in one card.

And the best thing is that there aren’t any hidden fees or commissions if you stay within your limit. You get £1,000 / €1,000 / $1,000 / A$2,000 per month with your travel card on the Standard Plan. But you’ll have to pay a 1% fee (0.5% on the Plus Plan) if you exceed this limit.

The Revolut card removes all of the stress of carrying all your Forex with you on your trips. What’s even better is that you’ll never have to walk into a ‘bureau de change’ ever again.

Here’s the full list of currencies you can exchange and hold on your card:

• AED – United Arab Emirates
• CLP – Chilean Peso
• COP – Colombian Peso
• EGP – Egyptian Pound
• GBP – Great Britain
• ILS – Israel
• INR – Indian Rupee
• ISK – Iceland
• KRW – South Korean Won
• KZT – Kazakhstani Tenge
• MAD – Moroccan Dirham
• MXN – Mexico
• NZD – New Zealand
• PHP – Philippine Peso
• QAR – Qatar
• RSD – Serbia
• SAR – Saudi Arabia
• SGD – Singapore
• THB – Thailand
• TRY – Turkey

Tip: Exchanging currencies back to your local currency also uses up your limit. So monitor your limits in the app so you don’t exceed them. You may also want to consider waiting for your limits to reset in the next month to avoid paying fees.

If like us, you love exploring hidden gems and you find that you can’t hold the currency of the country you want to travel to, don’t despair. Revolut has you covered! There’s almost no place on earth where you can’t use your Revolut card.

You can use your card to make payments in 136 currencies. So pretty much any where Mastercard and Visa is accepted.

Revolut simply uses the interbank exchange rate to process your payment. In other words, they use the available currency on your travel card and exchange it using this exchange rate. And that’s how you’re able to pay for your stuff abroad.

The real game changer here, is this exchange rate. It’s the live rate you see on Google or in your Forex app. And it’s yet another reason why Revolut is the best travel card on the market.

Useful Tip: If you can’t hold the currency you want to pay with on your Revolut card, always pay in USD. The USD is the most traded currency on the planet. This means that you’re most likely to get the best conversion rate if you pay using USD.

Note: You can access the full list of currencies supported by Revolut card here.

Revolut doesn’t have any physical branches, so you won’t need to worry about bank heists (just kidding). The app is your bank and because of that, you get card security like no other.

You’ll get an instant notification the second you make a payment with your card. You’ll also have full control of all your cards, allowing you to freeze, adjust limits and even change your pin.

And if you really need to speak to someone, you get chat support 24/7 to resolve any issue you encounter. It’s like having a bank round the clock at your fingertips.

💡 Bonus Tip: For extra security, use the Revolut virtual card to safely pay for your travel adventures. You can freeze it as soon as you’ve complete the transaction. You can also use your virtual card for those 30 day trials we always forget to cancel and end up paying for.

Revolut offers you a whole lot more than just the best travel card on the market. We’ve only told you why the card is great for travel.

To be honest, we’ve just scratched the surface because there are many more reasons to use Revolut.

With Revolut’s paid plans , you can get insurance, buy cryptocurrency, invest in shares, transfer money abroad, get rewards and more. The list just goes on.

Related Guide: Revolut is not only the best travel card. It’s also great for trading and investment too! Find out how we use Revolut to deposit money to the crypto trading app Binance for FREE and use the savings to grow our investment portfolio.

Revolut has changed the way people bank and that’s the reason why we’ve made the best travel card our only card.

Here’s a comparison of the travel benefits you get with the different plans that Revolut offers:

Disadvantages of Revolut Travel Card

If you’ve read this far, you’re either sold and can’t wait to get your hands on the card. Or, you’re starting to suspect that we work for Revolut. We don’t blame you, we would too!

Honestly, what Revolut offers is just brilliant! And there’s simply nothing else out there we’ve tried that even comes close.

But not everything is perfect. There are certain things Revolut can improve, and it’s only fair that we share them with you.

Although their live chat customer support is extremely helpful, we find that they sometimes take a little too long to respond.

On some days you may wait 5 minutes for a live agent, but on another day it can take up to an hour.

Their response time is simply inconsistent but we hope they improve this by connecting us to a live agent faster.

Revolut stopped allowing credit card as a payment method for top ups on 8th July 2022. So you can no longer top up your Revolut travel card with a credit card.

But we must admit that we miss the convenience of topping up our Revolut card using a credit card.

So if like us you just can’t wait to go on holiday or maybe you also get great rewards for using your credit card, Wise is the only other travel card that accepts credit card top ups.

As you already know, Revolut offer its services only via their app. That means they don’t have any branches you can walk into if things go pear shaped.

So if your mobile phone is lost, you won’t be able to contact Revolut without installing the mobile app on another device.

We hope they address this by offering email support or a website based chat support in the future.

There are clearly advantages and disadvantages of getting a Revolut card. We still firmly believe that it is the best travel card on the market. But if you want to explore other options, here are a few alternatives to Revolut:

We’ve given you more than 7 reasons why Revolut is the only travel card you’ll need in 2024. But don’t take our word for it, try it for yourself! Sign up for Revolut today and get 3 months of Revolut Premium on us.

If you need a reminder of why you should sign up for Revolut, here’s a summary of why we think it’s the best travel card on the market:

• Free prepaid card with transparent fee structure
• Best exchange rates with no commission
• Free and easy to top-up
• Free worldwide ATM withdrawals
• Exchange and hold up to 36 currencies
• Spend in 136 currencies
• End-to-end full stack app security

Are you planning a scuba diving trip? Or maybe you’re planning to spend the summer in Greece ? Whatever your plans are, make sure you take your Revolut card with you on your next adventure.

If you need any more money saving tips on how to get the most out of your travel card, we’d love to hear from you so we can share all our secrets with you.

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Revolut Travel Card Review

If you’ve not been sleeping under the rock, you’ve likely heard of Revolut and Revolut travel Card. In this post we are going to talk all about the Revolut Travel Card to understand if it is for you or not.

Revolut is an online bank that was first introduced in the year of the year 2015.

One of the primary reasons it has gained so much acclaim within a short period is that it includes everything you’d expect from an online banking platform in an elegant and modern application.

Before we dive into a full Revolut review and explain how travellers can use Revolut travel cards  in foreign countries, Let’s start with the fundamentals

Revolut Travel Card Basics

Revolut  comes with three different card types and four plans that comprise Standard, Standard Plus, Premium Metal, and Standard Plus.

The Standard card is completely free and comes with a few primary advantages. However, the Premium and Metal cards offer several exciting options, particularly for frequent travellers.

Here’s a brief breakdown of the significant benefits and prices of each card:

Standard Plan

• Revolut Juniour Standard Card Free
• Revolut Gifting
• ATM Withdrawl (200 EUR per month free)
• Travel Savings and Protection
• Interbank Exchange Rate (up to 1,000 EUR without hidden charges)

• 2.99 EUR per month
• Free Card Delivery
• Priority Support
• Everyday Protection
• Purchase Protection
• Tickets Protection

Premium Plan

• 7.99 EUR per month
• ATM Withdrawl (400 EUR per month free)
• Discounted Device Insurance
• Smart Delay
• Ticket Cancellation
• 0.1 % Interest on Vault
• Unlimited Foreign Exchange and ATM Withdrawl Boost

• 13.99 EUR per month
• ATM Withdrawl (800 EUR per month free)
• Smart Delay – For you and upto 3 friends
• Oversies Medical Insurance
• Winter Sports cover
• Car-Hire Excess

Revolut also offers Revolut Business for small and large businesses across the borders.

Another benefit of Revolut is that it only takes a few minutes to establish an account. All you require is a phone number that is working, and you’ll be able to create an account and obtain an online card.

To obtain a physical card, you’ll need to make an order, and it will take approximately 14 days for delivery. It is also necessary to prove your identity.

One of the drawbacks of Revolut is that currently, it’s not accessible to all citizens of the world.

Only people living in the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, and the United States can download the online bank.

If you’ve got your card and identity verified, you’re ready to enjoy the maximum advantage of your Revolut travel card. The fun begins.

If you’re a committed traveller who enjoys organizing and  budget-friendly travel , The Revolut travel card is the ideal option for you.

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Revolut Travel Card – Types of Account in Detail

Free plan i.e. standard plan.

There is not much to talk about the Standard Plan because it is quiet basic but yes if you want to send money home then you can enjoy the free transfer for 1000 EUR per month.

You can use your cards cross border in 150+ countries so you don’t have to pay any fees when you use your card. You will be charged according to the current market exchange rate.

Plus Card Feature

You get a protection for 1000 EUR per year for the accidental damage and loss of the item which you bought which is kind of excellent stuff. It is not like liability Insurance of Germany if you are looking for that you have to check Lemonade .

Another interesting feature is the extension of the return window here

If for some reason you are not able to attend your event, then you get a reimbursement as well.

Fairly new, as per the current situation in Europe where banks are giving you negative interest, Revolut is going to bring some interest method on your vault. You will get around 0.01% interest if you save 33K EUR in vault for one year.

You can teach your kids the knowledge of banking with the junior account.

You can customize your card for free, normally in standard plan you have to pay around 5.99 EUR for this customization

Premium Card

One thing to note is that all the feature of Plus card is going to stay in Premium Card so I will not be explaining the same here.

Starting from Premium Card you get a new feature of Smart Delay , In case your flight is delayed by more than 1 hr you get the free airport lauinge passes for you and your friend. If you are flight is late or cancelled then you have to know the rule about Europe and Flight delay compensation program which you can check out here .

You can take out more money every month.

Your insurance of accidental and theft protection increases here to 2,500 EUR.

You earn around 1% cashback for all the transaction which you going to make with the Metal Card.

Your Smart Delay Plan here is extended to up to 3 friends.

You can take out around 800 EUR per month here.

Your interest on vault is increased here

Your insurance for theft and stolen product is increased to whooping sum of 10,000 EUR

Revolut travel card: Paying and Budgeting, as well as Saving

The most significant benefit of the Revolut card is that the account section gives you the option to view all your transactions per day, week and even by month.

You can also categorize transactions into distinct categories. For instance, if you have budgeted 200 dollars for dining out at X location in June, you’ll be able to track all the expenses through the application.

Additionally, you can download the statements as well as upload receipts. You can also note notes on every transaction to track your expenditure. Additionally, you can share the expense when you travel with someone else.

This app will allow users to open multiple accounts using various currencies if they’re travelling internationally.

You could change your US dollar into euros and maintain two separate accounts with two currencies.

It also means that it is possible to pay with the local currency no matter if you’re travelling between France and the US.

However, if you are paying for something in an alternative country, Revolut converts your account balance into native currency using the current exchange rate between banks.

This will help you not be paid a fee and receive the mediocre exchange rate determined by an ATM service provider or the merchant acquisition. And this is the best part of it, I was in Croatia last year and the exchange rate which I got by using the Revolut Travel Card was way better then going to actually exchange the currency for me.

Another excellent feature is the way the application will email you an email notification every time you pay using your card, and this happens even after the receipt is completed printing.

The app also offers vaults that allow you to save money on travel. It is possible to create multiple vaults, such as one for a “travel through Egypt” vault or one that is a “weekend spa break” vault.

You can also fund the vaults by making a one-time transfer, recurring transfer or anything else that can be referred to as spare change.  Revolut Card  refers to as spare change.

Spare change is the term used to describe how the app will add any spare change you have on your Revolut Travel card and put it in the vault. For starters it feels like nothing but I saved around 100 EUR without even noticing just by Spare Change in my vault and it was interesting to notice later.

How to Use Revolut Travel Card Abroad

Through the Revolut travel card for travel, customers can transfer money overseas in more than 30 currencies using an  Interbank Exchange Rate , a tiny 0.5 percent charge for any transaction that exceeds EUR1,000 per month on the weekdays.

One disadvantage is that the markets are closed on weekends, and charges are assessed at 0.5 percent and one percent on currency exchange rates regardless of the transfer amount.

Revolut also has an international fee. It is listed in the breakdown of your payment when you transfer your money.

The primary benefit of Revolut is the capability to transfer money without any hidden charges and offers fast and secure money transfers.

The exchange rate for foreign currency can be checked via the Revolut app before making an exchange or the bank transfer for foreign exchange.

It is also possible to withdraw cash using the Revolut travel card lets you withdraw money from ATMs with your Revolut card at no cost.

The downside is that if you’re on an ordinary plan, you’ll be able to access the equivalent of 200 bucks per month.

However, using a Revolut card abroad is relatively simple and secure.

Security: Preventing Fraud

One of the most traumatic experiences in the world is to realize that your primary travel card was stolen or duplicated.

Usually, a rush to contact your bank in another country to block the card and request a replacement. We’ve all been there. The problem is that certain banks may take as long as 3-4 weeks to provide you with a new card, which could disrupt your trip abroad.

Revolut claims to be 7x more secure than a typical bank in preventing card fraud. This is due to their anti-fraud program that keeps the number of fraudulent transactions to 0.01 percent.

But it’s not the only thing. Revolut lets users freeze and defrost their cards with ease in the app. It takes just a few seconds.

It is also possible to enable security based on location to limit fraud, block contactless, online or swipe transactions, or set a monthly credit card spending limit to provide additional protection.

If you lose your card, you can purchase a replacement card on the app and request express delivery, which typically takes 2 and 3 days, based on the location.

Revolut offers an automated line for phone calls to stop your card immediately if you lose your phone. There aren’t many advantages to these Standard or Standard Plus plans, but if you’re an avid traveller, you could consider switching to metal or premium Plans.

They also come with perks such as health insurance paid per day, meaning that you can have coverage that triggers your location and only pays for days you use.

You can also purchase an upgrade to delayed and lost bag insurance and medical insurance and provide insurance for at least three adults and all your children.

These plans also come with access to lounges to more than 1000 airport lounges across the globe and SmartDelay, which gives you the airport lounge for free when your flight is delayed for more than one hour.

Last Thoughts on The Revolut Travel Card

It’s like Revolut is an ideal travel credit card for the next decade. It’s not just one of the top cards to use when travelling abroad. However, it can also be an excellent day-to-day bank card.

While the card comes with numerous benefits, it’s important to remember that some countries in which, the card may not function.

For instance, Revolut users have noted that they were unable to use the Revolut card was not working in several restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Also, be aware that their support online may not be the most reliable and is not as good as your bank’s local support.

If you encounter issues, there’s no physical place where you can meet with an administrator.

Overall it’s a good idea to consider it a good choice.  Revolut Card  is a fantastic card to carry around. However, it isn’t meant to substitute for your primary credit card. Instead, it could be a sound backup card you can utilize when travelling abroad or as a European ex-pat.

If you’re unsure whether Revolut would be the ideal choice for you, you might prefer to create a  multi-currency Wise account . 

If you are a travel blogger and looking for ways to Earn Money through travel blogging then check out our post.

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Sankalp Singh is the Founder and Author of Chasing Whereabouts. He is passionate about travel, photography, and food. He has travelled across Europe extensively to experience its quirks, culture, and diversity. He is a self-taught traveller and he has been exploring the world since the age of 25. When he is not travelling, you can find him at work being a Software Engineer in 9-5 Job.

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Monzo vs revolut: which is best for travel in 2024 [full comparison].

When packing for a trip abroad, one of the biggest things you need to consider is which travel card to take with you.

Ever since we began backpacking in 2016, we have taken our Revolut and Monzo cards with us on every trip.

We first started with Revolut on our journey around South America and then also started using Monzo shortly after.

As of now, we have used these cards in over 40 countries, and have worked out the many pros and cons that each card offers.

Though they seem to offer a very similar service, there are a few key differences between Monzo and Revolut that might make them better suited to your personal use.

Below I’ll take you through these differences we’ve picked up on and give you, what we believe to be, the clear winner in the battle of Monzo vs Revolut .

Just one thing to note, this review and our decision is based purely on the purpose of using these as travel cards to get the best bang for your buck when abroad.

So, without further ado, let’s get stuck in...

Travellerspoint

Which countries have we used Monzo and Revolut in?

To help give you a basis for this review, here’s all of the countries that we have used our Revolut and Monzo cards in.

As you can see, collectively this involves 5 of the 7 continents and dozens of different global currencies.

England / Ireland / Estonia / Finland / Germany / Latvia / Lithuania / Malta / Norway / Poland / Spain / Sweden

Indonesia / Sri Lanka / India / Nepal / The Philippines

North America:

Mexico / Guatemala / Nicaragua / El Salvador / United States of America

England / Ireland / Austria / Bosnia & Herzegovina / Croatia / Czech Republic / Estonia / Finland / France / Germany / Italy / Latvia / Lithuania / Malta / Netherlands / Norway / Poland / Spain / Sweden

Indonesia / Thailand / Cambodia / Vietnam / Laos / Sri Lanka / India / Nepal / The Philippines

Mexico / Guatemala / Nicaragua / El Salvador

South America:

Brazil / Argentina / Chile / Bolivia / Peru / Colombia / Galapagos Islands

Great features of Monzo for travel

• Best exchange rates possible - Based on Mastercard rates settled 3 days after transactions are made
• Unlimited fee-free cash withdrawals abroad in the European Economic Area (EEA)
• £200 worth of free withdrawals elsewhere abroad - 3% charge above this
• The ability to apply for an overdraft - we love this!
• Compatible with Google Pay and Apple Pay
• Ability to freeze your card - Great for if you lose your card or just want to pause it when not in use
• Order a replacement card to 100+ countries - £30 to ship internationally, free within the UK (however, the card costs £5 if it's not been stolen, subject to fraud, or expired).

Additional Monzo features

• Savings pots - A range of different solutions dependant on how much money you have ready to save
• Syncing up your salary - You can even get paid the day BEFORE your work is set to pay you!
• Clear monthly budgeting
• Set up joint accounts - Perfect if you’re travelling as a couple
• Monzo Flex - It's essentially a new take on a credit card and is fantastic for spreading the cost of purchases
• An awesome bill-splitting feature

Paid Features: Monzo Plus vs Mono Premium

For those wishing to upgrade their Monzo account, you've got two options! 

Aside from all the great features of a free account, you'll benefit from other fantastic features too. When comparing the differences, sometimes it just makes sense to upgrade depending on your situation.

Monzo Plus - £5 per month

• Up to £400 no-fee ATM withdrawals
• The ability to use virtual cards - Great against fraud!
• Credit Tracker - This way, you can keep an eye on your credit score as you go along
• 1 free cash deposit a month in the UK - Otherwise it's £1 for cash deposits
• Interest on your instant access saving pot - 4.60% AER interest (variable) on balances up to £100,000
• Custom categories for payments - This helps you to keep track of your spending
• You'll benefit from offers when it comes to some companies - This includes HelloFresh, Naked Wines, Babylon Health, RAC, and others
• Exclusive holographic card

Monzo Premium - £15 per month

Includes all of the above plus:

• Up to £600 no-fee ATM withdrawals
• Worldwide travel insurance - Covers you and your family when traveling together
• Phone insurance - This covers loss, damage, theft, and scratches
• Discounted access to over 1,100 airport lounges
• 5 free cash deposits a month in the UK
• Up to 4.60% AER interest (variable) interest on your instant access saving pot - Again, up to £100,000
• Exclusive metal card

Great features of Revolut for travel

Here’s a quick overview of the key features that help make Revolut an awesome choice for your next travel card.

• The best exchange rates possible - The exact rate as offered by Visa or Mastercard (+ 0.5% to 1% markup fee on weekends)
• Clear account overview of all expenses made
• Ability to freeze your card - ideal for if you lose your card abroad, or simply want it deactivated when not being used
• Offers an easy sharing bills feature - Once you pay for something, you request a percentage of the amount paid from someone else who uses Revolut
• Quick currency conversions - You can add whichever currency you’re using abroad and then get quick comparisons of the live exchange rates
• £200 free withdrawals every month - 2% fee thereafter (can be upgraded using the paid features discussed below)
• Ability to purchase gadget insurance - As well as travel insurance through the paid plans (see below)
• Order a replacement card to 180 different countries - These cost £5 and you'll need to pay a delivery fee
• Get up to 10% cashback when booking accommodation through Revolut - a great feature for frequent travelers! 

Additional Revolut features

• Cryptocurrency trading - Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash
• Stock trading - More than 300 stocks
• The ability to set budgets
• Typical UK current accounts - Use to pay direct debits, receive salary and cover bills etc...
• The ability to receive international payments
• Make charity donations - Without paying fees
• Receive cashback when purchasing certain products - this can be done through a Revolut credit card too! 

Paid Features: Revolut Premium vs Revolut Metal vs Revolut Ultra

If you wish to pay to upgrade your Revolut account, then you get access to a whole host of great perks for a small monthly sum .

It’s worth noting that Revolut is always expanding these perks so check ahead of time to see if this list is still up-to-date.

When we first started using Revolut 4 years ago, the perks were only a fraction of what’s on offer today, and the option to upgrade now makes much better financial sense.

Premium features - £7.99 per month

• Unlimited foreign exchange Monday-Friday
• Up to £400 free international ATM withdrawals per month - a 2% fee afterward
• Full purchase protection - up to £2,500
• Up to 5% cashback on accommodation
• Up to 20% off fees on international transfers
• Up to 2.34% interest paid into saving vaults daily - depends on the currency
• 5 commission-free stock trades every month
• Revolut Junior - can create cards for two children under the age of 18
• Perks Plus - higher discounts off top brands
• ‍ Personalised debit card - As opposed to the standard colours ‍
• Commodities trading - This includes gold, silver, platinum, and palladium ( read more here )
• ‍ Disposable virtual card - The number changes after every online payment, helping protect against online fraud ( read more here ) ‍
• Express global card delivery - to 180 countries in 4 days ‍
• Priority customer service support from Revolut
• Travel insurance included within your monthly fee - Be sure to read more about this here . Personally, I always have a separate annual travel insurance policy that I know is custom-designed for my travels & wouldn’t rely solely on this. I recommend checking out my SafetyWing review which is a good option to go for! ‍
• Other insurance perks - Emergency medical assistance with expenses paid directly to your Revolut account; delayed travel insurance; discounted devices insurance + more. ‍
• Access to airport lounges at discounted rates
• SmartDelay - Free lounge access for you and 1 friend if your flight is delayed by over an hour ( more info )

Metal features - £14.99 per month

Includes all of the above, plus:

• Up to £800 free international ATM withdrawals per month - a 2% fee afterwards
• Full purchase protection
• Earn up to 4% AER/Gross (variable) paid daily on your savings
• 10 commission-free stock trades every month
• 40% off fees on every international transfer
• Up to 10% cashback on accommodation - compared to 5% on premium
• Cashback on card payments - up to 0.1% on transactions in Europe and UK, and 1% elsewhere
• Personal Liability Insurance - up to £1 million
• Five accounts for under 18s with full access ‍
• ‍ Free concierge service - Check out this thread for people’s experiences
• ‍ StartDelay free lounge pass for you and 3 friends -  As opposed to you and 1 friend on premium

Ultra features - £45 per month (introductory offer, usually £55 per month)

The bonuses of using Revolut Ultra, include:

• Up to £2000 free international ATM withdrawals per month - a 2% fee afterwards
• Free International Transfers
• Earn up to 4.75% AER/Gross (variable) paid daily on your savings
• Five accounts for under 18s with full access
• Trip and event cancellation insurance
• Perks worth £4,000+ in annual benefits
• Unlimited lounge access
• Platinum-plated card
• Subscriptions for Sleep Cycle, Headspace, NordVPN, and Picsart
• Can request a call back when it comes to priority customer support

For more information you can check out our in-depth Revolut guide here...

What are the important differences between Monzo and Revolut?

Based on important features when it comes to travel, here’s a look at how I think these 2 awesome challenger banks stand up:

1. Withdrawing money from foreign ATMs

Under the free plans, each allow £200 of free withdrawals each month. Above this you are charged a fee. With Revolut this is 2% and with Monzo this is now 3%. It used to be just 2% from Monzo as well, but this has now changed. As such, Revolut wins here .

2. Paying by card when abroad

Monzo wins purely because of the overdraft feature. Having this on Cazzy’s card means we never have to worry about running out of money when out and about for the day. Be aware though that you do have to apply for the overdraft and not everyone gets approved.

3. Splitting bills

Both Monzo and Revolut offer a feature where you can request money from another user in order to split a bill. A really great feature that both apps do really well .

4. Dealing with fraud

When you start to move your banking ever more online, there is always a fear of fraud and other people somehow getting a hold of your details. Both Monzo and Revolut have advanced safety features in place to help prevent this. 

Namely, the ability to freeze your card at any time and reactivate it at the click of a button. I also like that, if you enter the wrong access pin to the app, you actually get blocked from accessing the bank account and have to verify your identity in order to regain access. 

With Monzo, this requires you to take a picture of your photo ID and record a quick video of you saying something, in order for the Monzo security team to verify it's you who is trying to access the app. We have had no issues with either, except for with Revolut back in 2016. 

Somehow, when paying for something online in South America, a man in Canada got a hold of Cazzy’s card details and used them to buy flight tickets out of Canada (valued at just under £200). I believe that them accessing the details in the first place was our fault and nothing to do with Revolut. 

Either way, we contacted Revolut about the issue and after a few weeks managed to get the money refunded! At the same time, there are plenty of stories online about both Monzo and Revolut where users have been unable to recover stolen funds. 

Whether this is the fault of Monzo and Revolut isn’t always clear; but from personal experience we can vouch for Revolut. Overall, we’ve had great experiences when it comes to fraud with both companies .

5. Replacing lost cards

For some reason, Cazzy and me have a bad habit of leaving our cards in ATMs! We’ve each done it a couple of times and luckily it’s never been a major issue as we each always have a backup card. 

What I love about both apps is that you can immediately freeze and block your card if you’ve lost it or had it stolen, so that no money can be taken. If you do need to order a replacement card outside of the UK, then this is 100% possible with both Revolut and Monzo. 

With Monzo, it costs £5 to replace a card that hasn't been stolen, subject to fraud, or expired in the UK. Monzo also charge a flat £30 fee to ship outside the UK (sent with DHL tracking).

You are allowed some free replacements but that all depends on your plan.

With Revolut this is at least €19.99 and possibly more depending on which international country you are in. To ship within the UK, Revolut charges £5. However, if you're a member of Revolut Premium, Metal or Ultra, you're eligible for free delivery.

It’s hard to give a winner here, because I think both services are very similar in price and incredibly easy-to-use .

6. User-friendliness

Both Monzo and Revolut have a very modern and straightforward feel to them. All of the features are easy to access, except for the currency conversion tool which to me can often seem a bit clunky and delayed. Though this does depend on the quality of the internet connection!

For some reason, I personally prefer the feel of Monzo, possibly because I seem to use it more often these days. That being said, I would have to give the overall award for user-friendliness to Revolut . 

Simply because of the fact that they let you save a UK bank card to your account allowing you to top up directly from within the app, rather than having to head to your alternate internet banking app.

Also, their currency conversion tool is extremely handy, and gives you a very quick overview of whichever exchange rates you choose.

7. Additional perks

As you can see from the detailed description above, Revolut has clearly put a lot of work into the paid plans. Great travel-related perks include the chance to access free travel insurance included within your plan, as well as the chance to get free lounge passes with flight delays. 

Their concierge service is also an interesting idea, though reviews online seem to be more negative than positive .

So in the world of additional perks, Revolut is the winner .

Overall verdict: Monzo vs Revolut - Which is better for travel?

As you can see, both Monzo and Revolut offer a very appealing travel card service, well suited to help you save money when travelling almost anywhere in the world.

Our policy is to take both our Monzo and Revolut cards with us everywhere we go, partly due to the fact that one is a Mastercard (Monzo) and the other is a Visa (Revolut), so we are covered no matter what.

It also means that we don’t have to pay a monthly subscription charge in order to maintain free withdrawals.

With 4 cards, it means we can access £800 worth of free withdrawals between us each month, which has never proved to be an issue.

However, if I had to pick one that I prefer, it would have to be Monzo , purely because of the overdraft feature.

It has come in handy so many times when we unexpectedly need access to money and don’t have any WiFi or data to top up at that time.

It’s not to say that Revolut is bad, but up until now Monzo has proved more reliable.

That being said: I’m wondering if Revolut will soon overtake Monzo as my favourite.

They already have a lot of very obvious perks.

Notably that once you add a card, you can then top up from within the app and never have to leave.

With Monzo, once you've checked your balance and seen you need more money, you have to go to your banking app and send a bank transfer from there.

Also, many of the premium features listed above are relatively new and we haven’t yet had a chance to trial them.

On previous trips, the paid Revolut plans have never been very financially appealing, but with the addition of the lounge pass system and their awesome perks; they are well worth the monthly fee.

In fact, we now have the Ultra Plan and can safely say that it's well worth the money, as there are tons of fantastic perks.

As we continue to try out the additional paid features, I will update this article accordingly in the coming months...

Advice for new users

So, what would be my advice if you’re planning a trip and trying to decide whether to download Revolut or Monzo.

If you want to just go for one and be done with it, opt for Monzo .

Or if you want to access all of the other cool features, like cryptocurrency and stock trading, then Revolut is the obvious choice.

However, one of my favourite travel tips is to download both and order cards for each one.

Take them each with you abroad and give them both a go.

The fact that they are both free to use and download means that it’s more than worthwhile trying each one.

Plus, you get the bonus of twice as many free ATM withdrawals each month.

The future of Monzo and Revolut

It seems that the aim of both Monzo and Revolut are to become well-rounded financial service providers, helping you to handle all aspects of your finances.

As of writing, it seems to me that both providers have done a great job of diversifying these offerings.

When we originally wrote this article, it was only Monzo that offered joint accounts and loans, whereas now Revolut offer these too.

However, with the ability to easily access overdrafts, Monzo seems to be ahead in the race to help people more easily and comfortably switch from traditional banking to this new digital banking revolution.

But in the 4 years we’ve been using each of these services, they have both come a long way.

And it’s exciting to see what the future holds and which new services each one starts to roll out.

How to sign up for Monzo and Revolut

Getting your hands on a Monzo or Revolut card is sooooo simple!

Just go and download the app.

• Find Monzo here
• Find Revolut here

You’ll then need to go ahead and enter a few basic details such as your name, email address and home address.

When you’re all signed up you can then request your card to be sent out to you and you’re good to go!

Other similar travel cards to try

As well as Monzo and Revolut, there are 3 other travel cards that we have tried abroad.

1. Starling Bank

The main appeal they offer above Monzo and Revolut is that they have no cap on free monthly withdrawals.

Which is obviously a massive perk if you are worried about paying high monthly fees with Monzo or Revolut.

That being said, Starling is well behind in offering any additional features and Cazzy and I never really grew very fond of it.

Perhaps the biggest issue we had was that the exchange rate we received with them often tended to be slightly worse than what Revolut and Monzo offers.

I’m not sure why as it’s meant to be the same but hey that’s just what we’ve found. 

I do know that both Starling and Revolut apply a 0.5% - 1% surcharge to exchange rates on weekends so as to protect themselves against big currency fluctuations (markets close over the weekend).

However Monzo doesn’t do this!

I used this a few times abroad and just never got on with it.

At least with Starling they have the clear bonus of no maximum withdrawal amount each month, but N26 just never offered any benefits above Monzo and Revolut so we quickly stopped using them.

Their card also just seemed very tacky (a poor excuse I know!).

Anyhow, they’re no longer available in the UK anyway so best to just ignore them.

When it comes to using these cards for travel, Wise (formerly TransferWise) simply can’t compete with Monzo or Revolut.

This is because they charge you conversion fees for using your card abroad (if you don't hold the local currency in your multi-currency account).

What I absolutely love about Wise though is that they have the lowest conversion fees when it comes to receiving international money transfers and converting it into GBP.

As such we use our Wise account a lot for our business!

For more information, you can check out our in-depth guide of Wise Vs Revolut ...

Well that’s about it!

I hope this has been a pretty useful and detailed comparison between Monzo and Revolut , more specifically with regards to how they can help you when travelling abroad .

Once again, be aware that both of these companies are constantly upgrading their features so exact prices and services may be different at the time you sign up.

Now over to you, have you used Monzo or Revolut?

If so, which one do you prefer?

Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Be sure to check out these other helpful guides we've put together:

• The Best Ways To Get Cheap Hotels
• The Best Travel Apps
• The Best Travel Jobs

Leave a comment

Let us know what you think.

5 million people can't be wrong

Revolut Travel Card Review [2024]

In a Nutshell

With some of the best exchange rates around and free weekday conversions for most currencies, the Revolut card is a worthy travel companion. It comes with an easy-to-use app but strict ATM withdrawal limits can be challenging.

Revolut Travel Card

• Best Exchange rates on weekdays
• Worst Low ATM withdrawal limits
• Free account available
• Make payments in 200+ countries
• Free withdrawals at over 55,000 ATMs worldwide
• Exchange 25+ currencies
• Great value with the interbank exchange rate
• No conversion fees on weekdays for most currencies
• Track your spending in the Revolut app
• Connects with Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Easily split travel expenses with friends
• Over 25 million people have used Revolut
• Weekend markup on exchange rates
• Low ATM withdrawal limits of just A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals per month, whichever comes first
• Limited customer support available

Revolut Card Offer

Sign up and get a $15 top-up . For new customers only, T&Cs apply .

What is the Revolut travel card?

Revolut provides a virtual account that allows you to store different currencies in a digital wallet.

With this international travel card you can make payments in Australia and overseas with virtual and physical Revolut travel cards.

With your Revolut account, you can:

• Make purchases in more than 200 countries and with 25+ currencies
• Send money to both Australian and international bank accounts
• Receive money in a range of foreign currencies
• Withdraw from more than 55,000 ATMs worldwide
• Pay like a local while you’re abroad

Unlike most other debit travel money cards , Revolut offers different plans with different fees and limits. We’ll focus on the free Standard plan in this review unless stated.

The Standard plan

Revolut is one of the best travel cards available for Australians. So what makes it so good? For a start, the Revolut Standard plan is entirely free with no monthly subscription costs or hidden fees.

You’ll get great value when converting your money since Revolut, like the Wise card , uses one of the best exchange rates globally: the interbank rate.

Unlike Wise, Revolut doesn’t charge conversion fees for weekday exchanges (except for Thai baht and Ukrainian hryvnia), making Revolut the best card option for midweek currency exchanges.

This affordability makes the Revolut card worth having if you’re likely to make most of your purchases with the card. However, if you rely on ATM withdrawals, it may not be your best choice. Revolut limits free ATM withdrawals to just A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals per monthly billing cycle, whichever happens first, before imposing a 2% markup(minimum charge of A$1.50).

The average Trustpilot review for Revolut is 4.3 stars with many users saying they love the easy-to-use app and the ability to track their spending. However the most common complaints centre around limited customer support.

How it works

Treat your Revolut card as a prepaid travel card . As long as you have money in your Revolut account, you can use the card to make payments and withdraw cash almost anywhere in the world. You can also use it to shop online.

Revolut allows you to store 25+ currencies (although the list is continuing to grow) and you can transfer between them to lock in a favourable exchange rate before you travel.

Revolut travel card fees (Standard account)

While it doesn’t cost anything to open an account and there is no subscription fee for a Standard plan, there are still certain charges to look out for, especially when you go over your spending limits.

• Opening an account: Free
• Getting your Revolut card: The first card is free. Additional cards are A$8.99 + delivery fee
• A$8.99 + A$9.99 per card for standard delivery
• A$33.99 per card for express delivery
• From Australian-issued debit cards and Australian bank accounts: Free
• From Australian-issued credit cards: Up to 1% of the transaction amount
• From debit and credit cards issued outside of Australia: Up to 2% of the transaction amount
• Spending money: Free but on weekends there is a 1% markup on transactions that require a currency exchange (see currency conversion fee below)
• Free for up to A$2,000 per month during exchange market hours
• 0.5% of the value of the exchange for any amount over A$2,000 per month
• 1% of the value of the exchange for exchanges made outside exchange market hours
• For THB and UAH: 1% of the value of the exchange
• 5 withdrawals or a total of A$350 (whatever comes first) in a rolling month: Free
• Any amount over A$350/month, or 5 ATM withdrawals per month, whichever comes first: 2% of the value of the withdrawal(minimum charge of A$1.50)

Spending limits

While spending limits can feel like a hassle, they exist to prevent fraud and provide additional security should you lose your card. You can change your spending limits within the app.

There are just two limits to watch out for in the Revolut Standard plan. The first is a A$2,000 currency exchange limit per month

The second — the ATM withdrawal limit — is restrictive, even by prepaid travel card standards. You can only withdraw up to A$350, or 5 ATM withdrawals, whichever comes first in any rolling 30 days without charge. After that, there’s a 2% markup(minimum charge of A$1.50) on all withdrawals.

Revolut card exchange rates

When it comes to exchange rates, few travel cards surpass Revolut. It can hold 25+ currencies, there are no conversion fees for most weekday exchanges, and Revolut uses the interbank exchange rate, which is one of the best rates globally.

The flip side is that there is a fee of 1% for foreign currency conversions on the weekend when the markets are closed (Friday 5pm to Sunday 6pm New York Time).

Card Provider

Exchange rate.

A$ → GBP (3pm 13 Feb 2023)

Conversion Fee

Loading A$1000

No fee on weekdays

What is the interbank exchange rate?

The interbank exchange rate is the rate banks use when they trade foreign currency with one another. It’s generally a better rate than the one you’ll find with a currency exchange provider.

The interbank rate is calculated by finding the midway point between the buy and sell rates of each currency. It’s sometimes also called the mid-market rate or the spot rate.

How the Revolut card compares

Revolut has 3 account plans, ranging from free to paid accounts but to give you the best travel card comparison , we’ll focus on the Revolut Standard plan.

Comparing the different plans

Revolut Australia offers 3 account plans to cater to different budgets and needs. Revolut Standard is a free account that covers the basics but it also imposes tighter spending and exchange limits.

Revolut Premium and Metal are paid plans with more features and greater flexibility but you may be charged a fee if you choose to downgrade your account more than 14 days after signing up and within 10 months.

Because of this, we recommend starting with the Standard plan and upgrading if you decide the additional features are worth it.

Get your Revolut card

Revolut makes it as easy as possible to open an account, choose your plan, and apply for a Revolut card.

Open account

Download the Revolut app on your phone and open your Revolut account in a matter of minutes. You’ll need ID.

Add money to your account

You can add money to your account with the Revolut app using a bank transfer, credit card, or debit card. You can even set up automatic top-ups when your balance gets low. It’s best to start with AUD in your account and then exchange currencies as needed.

Apply for your Revolut card

You can apply for a Revolut card via the Request Card tab in the app. The first card is free.

Activate your Revolut card

Activating your physical Revolut card is easy. All you have to do is make a payment at any store or withdraw from an ATM. Virtual cards are automatically activated.

Where can you use the Revolut card?

According to the Revolut website, you can use your Revolut card in more than 200 countries worldwide. Card payments and ATM withdrawals are accepted in more than 130 currencies .

Despite this, you can actually only hold 25+ currencies in your account. Once you’ve loaded Australian Dollars into your account, you can exchange them for any of the following currencies:

AED, AUD, BGN, CAD , CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR , GBP , HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY , MXN, NOK, NZD , PLN, QAR, RON, SAR, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD , ZAR.

Can Revolut be used in Australia?

Your Revolut card works just like a bank card in Australia. With it, you can make payments in local stores, withdraw from local ATMs, and send money to local banks.

But it’s worth keeping in mind that the same spending limits apply whether you’re using your card in Australia or overseas. You may prefer to use a debit card from your Australian bank for purchases and withdrawals in Australia.

Revolut virtual cards & app

The Revolut app is a godsend when it comes to tracking your daily expenses overseas and managing payments in different currencies. It’s the perfect modern travel payment solution for the 21st century.

Revolut has refined its app, making it easy to create an account, load money, and view your account activities. You can exchange currency within the app and transfer money to Australian and international bank accounts.

Revolut embraces digital payment technology. While Revolut cards are compatible with digital wallets like Apple and Google Pay, the app also enables disposable virtual card technology for online payments.

This means that you can add single-use virtual cards to your account to use in addition to your physical card. Once you’ve made a payment online, the card will be destroyed and the number replaced, making it impossible to use them more than once.

Working out which is the best debit card all depends on how you like to travel and how you plan to use the card.

Many frequent travellers combine a Revolut Standard card with an additional card — such as the Wise card — to make the most of the free accounts and expand on their spending limits.

Frequent travellers and big spenders may quickly see the benefits of the Metal plan with its more generous free withdrawal and currency exchange limits — along with the added luxury of discounted lounge access (and free access for flight delays beyond one hour).

Not to mention Metal cardholders may be able to recoup the subscription costs quickly by making purchases through the cashback program.

It can take up to nine days to receive your Revolut card with standard shipping across Australia. Choosing express shipping can speed up the process, delivering your card within 3 business days.

Premium and Metal cardholders in the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA) have access to comprehensive travel insurance provided by Allianz.

While this feature isn’t available to Australian cardholders yet, it’s likely only a matter of time until Premium and Metal members here have access to it.

The advantage of Revolut is that you can manage your card and control your payment settings in the app.

To fortify your account, the Revolut app has a fingerprint ID log-in option and customisable features to allow you to disable things like contactless payments or ATM withdrawals.

You can freeze your card if it is lost or stolen to prevent further unauthorised purchases and, of course, you can also use the virtual cards we’ve mentioned above for added security.

Revolut uses the 3D Secure payments (which requires in-app payment verification) and the Sherlock anti-fraud system to receive real-time alerts on fraud activity.

Revolut Australia is regulated by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and your money is guaranteed up to $250,000 by a licensed bank in Australia, under the Payments Systems (Regulation) Act.

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ASIC regulated

Like all reputable money exchanges, we are registered with AUSTRAC and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).

S Money complies with the relevant laws pertaining to privacy, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance. This means you are required to provide I.D. when you place an order. It also means the order must be paid for by the same person ordering the currency and you must show your identification again when receiving your order.

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The 6 Best Travel Cards for the US 2024

If you live in the US but travel often abroad, a travel money card can make spending in foreign currencies cheaper and more convenient. Travel money cards also have the bonus that they can be cheaper when you shop online with foreign retailers, as there’s often no foreign transaction fee to pay.

Different types of travel money cards, including travel debit cards, prepaid travel cards and travel credit cards, are available to support different customer needs. The right one for you will depend on your personal preference and how you like to manage your money. 

Read on for all you need to know, including a closer look at travel money card types, some great options to consider, and the sorts of fees you need to think about when you choose. 

Wise – good value debit card for the US

Before we get into details about different travel money card options, let’s start with the Wise card as a good all-round option that allows you to hold and spend US dollars, as well as a diverse range of other world currencies.

Wise account can hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and you can get a linked Wise card for a one time delivery fee. Top up your account in USD and you can spend locally and overseas conveniently. If you plan to travel, you can switch to the currency you need before you travel, so you know your travel money budget in advance - or if you’d prefer, you can simply allow the card to automatically switch currencies as and when you need it. All currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate, with low fees from 0.43%.

Plus you can get USD bank account details - as well as local account details for up to 8 other currencies - to get paid conveniently to your Wise account . If you’re receiving money in USD to Wise, it’s free to get paid by ACH, and there’s a low 4.14 USD fee to receive a wire. There’s no fee to receive any of the other 9 currencies which come with local bank details.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using the Wise travel money debit card, to help you decide if it's suitable for you.

What is a travel money card?

A travel money card can be used for payments online and in stores, and for cash withdrawals , just like your regular bank card can be. You can use your travel money card in the US just as conveniently as you can when you travel or shop online with overseas retailers. However, with a travel money card you’ll find the features and fees have been optimized for international use . That might mean you get a better exchange rate compared to using your normal card overseas, or that you run into fewer fees. Some travel cards also have options to earn cashback and rewards when you use your card internationally. 

6 travel money cards for the US compared

We’ll look at each of these card options in a little more detail in just a moment, but let’s start with an overview of how 6 top travel money cards for the US line up side by side:

As you can see, the features of different travel money cards can vary pretty widely. In general travel debit cards can be convenient and often fairly cheap to use, while travel credit cards can offer some nice perks like cashback or rewards - but do mean you might run into interest and late payment charges, depending on how you choose to pay.

Travel debit cards often let you top up a linked account online or through an app, so you can set your budget and can’t spend more than you intend. Travel credit cards on the other hand let you spend to your card limit, and then repay the amount over a few months if you’d prefer to. Which is best for you will come down to how you like to manage your money - we’ll dive into a few more details about each card type, next.

What are different types of travel cards?

Broadly speaking, US customers are able to select a travel money card from either a regular bank or a specialist provider, which may be a travel debit card, travel prepaid card or a travel credit card. We’ll walk through what each travel money card type is, and pick out a couple of good card options, so you can compare and choose.

• Travel debit cards
• Travel prepaid cards
• Travel credit cards

1. Travel Debit Cards for the US

Travel debit cards are usually offered by specialist providers, with linked digital accounts you can use to hold and convert a currency balance. That makes them equally convenient to use in the US when spending in dollars, when shopping online with retailers overseas, and when you travel. While different cards have their own features, travel debit cards can usually be topped up easily online and through an app, with the option to see your balance and get transaction notifications through your phone too. That makes it easier to keep on top of your money, no matter where in the world you are.

Travel debit card Option 1: Wise

Wise is a good value travel money debit card for the US. There’s no fee to open a Wise account, and just a small delivery fee for your Wise card, with no minimum balance and no monthly charge. You just pay low Wise fees from 0.43% when you convert currencies, and transparent ATM fees when you exhaust the monthly free transactions available with your account.

• No fee to open a Wise account , no minimum balance requirement
• 9 USD one time fee to get your Wise card
• 2 withdrawals, to 100 USD value per month for free, then 1.5 USD + 2%
• Hold 40+ currencies, convert between them with the mid-market rate
• Get local account details to receive USD and 9 other currencies conveniently

Travel debit card Option 2: Revolut

Revolut has a selection of different account tiers, so you can simply pick the account you prefer - from Standard plans with no monthly fee to the 16.99 USD/month Metal plan. All Revolut accounts have linked cards, although exactly what type of card you get depends on your account tier. You can hold around 25 currencies, and convert currencies with the mid-market rate to your plan’s allowance. 

• No monthly fee if you open a Standard Revolut account, or upgrade for up to 16.99 USD/month 
• Card delivery fees may apply depending on your account tier
• All accounts have some fee free weekday currency conversion with 0.5% fair usage fees after that. Out of hours and exotic currency fees may apply in some cases
• Standard plan holders can withdraw 400 USD overseas per month without paying fees
• Hold USD and around 25 other currencies

Pros and cons of using debit travel cards in the US

How to choose the best travel debit card for the us.

The best travel debit card for USA really depends on your personal preferences and how you like to manage your money. If you’ll be traveling widely it makes sense to look for an account with mid-market currency exchange and a large selection of supported currencies, like Wise . Other providers like Revolut can also be a good pick, particularly if you’ll use your account very frequently and would prefer to pay a monthly fee to unlock lots of no fee transactions and extra perks.

Is there a spending limit with a travel debit card in the US?

Different providers set their own limits for card use. Limits may apply daily, weekly or monthly, and can apply to different types of transactions. You might find you have a limit to the amount of ATM withdrawals you can make per day, for example, or the value of contactless payments - these limits are set for security and can sometimes be managed and changed in the provider’s app.

2. Prepaid Travel Cards for the US

With a prepaid travel card you’ll need to order a card and add funds, to pay merchants and make cash withdrawals. While prepaid travel cards are usually issued on large global networks - and can therefore be used pretty widely - not all cards are accepted globally, so you’ll need to check network coverage in your destination country.

Prepaid travel card option 1: Bluebird American Express prepaid debit card

You can order a Bluebird prepaid debit card for free online. You’ll then be able to top up in cash or from a bank account. You can also add checks or have funds deposited by others - fees apply for some top up methods. While this card doesn’t allow you to hold foreign currencies, you won’t pay a foreign transaction fee to spend your USD balance abroad, which makes it a good choice when you’re away from home.

• Get a card for free by ordering online
• Top up in a range of ways in USD
• No foreign transaction fee when spending overseas
• ATM withdrawal fees of 2.5 USD or the equivalent when overseas
• American Express cards are not always accepted internationally - check coverage before you travel
• No interest to pay 

Prepaid travel card option 2: Discover it Secured

Discover it Secured is a credit card, but we’ve included it in our roundup of prepaid cards because it’s a secured card, which means you’ll need to pay an upfront deposit, and can then spend to that deposit level every month. Clear off your bill in full to avoid interest, and you could build a credit score, earn cashback and get no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas, too.

• No annual card fee, although interest charges and late payment fees do apply
• No foreign transaction fees for spending overseas
• ATM withdrawal fees may apply including a 10 USD cash advance fee
• Earn cashback on spending and build credit as you do so
• Discover network is not always internationally supported - check your destination before you travel

Pros and cons of using prepaid travel cards in the US

How to choose the best travel prepaid card for the us.

There’s no single best travel prepaid card for the US - it’ll come down to your personal preferenc e. If you’re looking specifically for a prepaid debit card you can use abroad with no foreign transaction fee, try the Bluebird card option. However, if a credit card suits you, the Discover it Secured can be a strong pick thanks to the cash back options available.  

Is there a spending limit with a prepaid card in the US?

Different prepaid travel cards set their own limits for spending and withdrawals, which can  vary between currencies. You’ll need to check your card’s terms and conditions carefully to make sure you pick a provider which suits your needs.

3. Travel Credit Cards for the US

Travel credit cards typically offer some extra international features compared to regular credit cards, such as low or no foreign transaction fees or extra option to earn rewards when you’re abroad. In general, travel credit cards are safe and convenient but can be more expensive compared to using a debit card option. Before you select the right card for you it’s important to check the fees, rates, eligibility rules and interest rates which apply, so you can make sure it’s a good fit for you.

Travel credit card option 1: Capital One Venture Rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards card can be used in the US conveniently - and has no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas. There’s also a comparatively low cash advance fee when you use an ATM, at 3 USD or 3% whichever is higher. You’ll need to repay your bill in full every month to avoid fees and interest, but can earn travel rewards and miles on your day to day spending.

• No foreign transaction fee
• Earn travel rewards on spending 
• Get extras like lounge access and free travel insurance
• International spending uses the network exchange rate 
• Variable interest rates which apply if you don’t pay off your bill in full

Travel credit card option 2: Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a variable interest rate with no foreign transaction fee to pay. However, you’ll need to pay a 95 USD annual card charge to get your card in the first place. Currency conversion uses the network exchange rate - plus there are benefits and rewards available for cardholders.

• Variable interest rates and a 95 USD annual fee
• Check your eligibility and order a card online easily
• Network exchange rates apply

Pros and cons of using credit cards in the US

How to choose the best travel credit card for the us.

The best travel credit card for the US will depend on your personal preferences. If you’re interested in earning rewards and cash back, a travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred could be a good bet as it has no foreign transaction fee and offers rewards on all spending. Whichever card you’re considering you’ll want to weigh up the potential fees you’ll need to pay against the rewards you can earn to make sure it’s worthwhile.

Which cards are accepted in the US?

It’s important to know that you may find that different card networks are more popular in one country than they may be in another. For example, while Visa and Mastercard are pretty widely accepted globally, other popular US card networks, like American Express and Discover cards are less likely to be accepted in some countries and regions. Both networks have some support in the US, but coverage isn’t universal.

If you’re looking for a card specifically to take with you when you travel, it may be worth checking coverage in destinations you visit frequently to help you choose the right network for your needs.

In most cases it’s best to carry more than one means of payment when you travel - for example a credit card and a specialist travel money card which has been issued on a different network - so that you always have a plan B if your preferred payment method isn’t available.

Conclusion: Which travel money card is best for the US?

If you’re living in the US but travel often - or if you shop online with retailers based overseas, you might want to pick a travel money card for foreign currency spending. Travel money cards have different features, and can be picked up via regular banks or online specialists.

You could opt for a low cost travel debit card which comes with a linked account to hold a selection of currencies - like the Wise debit card . Or you might prefer a prepaid travel money card like the Bluebird American Express debit card which can be linked to a fee free account. Finally, another option is to get a travel credit card either to earn cashback and rewards, or to avoid foreign transaction fees. 

Use this guide to start your research and pick the right option for your specific needs.

Go to Wise Go to Revolut

FAQs - Best travel cards for the US 2024

1. Which travel card is best to use in the US and abroad?

There’s no single best travel card to use in the US and when you’re headed abroad. Which is right for you will depend on your preferences and the features you want to access. Having a multi-currency account from a provider like Wise or Revolut can be a good bet if you travel widely as you’ll be able to hold and exchange dozens of major currencies for convenience.

2. What is the best way to pay when traveling outside the US?

Spending with your card is convenient when traveling, but you’ll be best off having several different payment methods just in case your first choice isn’t supported. For example, you could choose 2 different debit or credit cards, issued on different networks, and you could also get foreign currency cash in advance so you have some  on you for those times when cards aren’t available.

3. Can you withdraw cash with a credit card in the US and overseas?

You can usually make cash withdrawals with a credit card in the US and overseas, at any ATM that supports your card network. You’ll often find that a fee applies, and you may start to accumulate interest on the withdrawn amount immediately. Travel money debit cards from providers like Wise and Revolut can be a lower cost option for cash withdrawals locally and abroad.

4. Can I use a US card abroad?

You can use your US card anywhere you see the card network’s logo displayed. Visa and Mastercard networks are very well supported globally, including in the US, making these good options to look out for when you pick your travel debit card for use overseas as well as in the US.

5. Are prepaid cards safe?

Prepaid cards from reputable providers are safe to use at home and abroad. They aren’t linked to your main bank account which can offer extra peace of mind, and may also make it easier to manage your travel budget. However, you’ll need to check the card features and fees carefully to make sure you're getting the best match for your needs.

6. What are the main fees for travel cards when traveling?

The fees applied for travel cards can vary widely depending on the provider and the card type. With debit cards you may find ATM fees, and costs for converting currencies, although specialist providers like Wise and Revolut have linked multi-currency accounts which can bring down the costs of currency conversion. Credit card fees include cash advance charges, foreign transaction fees and interest.

The Best Travel Credit and Debit Cards for Backpackers

When you’re travelling outside your home country, it can be really confusing to figure out the best way to get your foreign currency. Should you pay by cash or card? Debit or credit? Bring cash to exchange or withdraw it while you’re there? Maybe you should carry travellers’ cheques (not in this century!) – or is it safe to draw out cash from ATMs as you travel? You’ll get all the answers in my guide to the best travel cards.

Most backpackers are on a tight budget, so of course, we want to squeeze every last drop of value out of our savings while on the road. We know that treating ourselves to a night in a good hotel could cost us two weeks of travelling in India, and one drink in a Bangkok bar could cost three times the price of a Chang from the local 7-Eleven. But many of us are paying unnecessary international banking fees because we don’t know any better. Well, now you can! Keep reading to find out how to become a more savvy traveller and stop handing your hard-earned money right back to your bank.

 Quicklinks

• Foreign Transaction Fees
• Cash Withdrawal Fees
• Foreign Exchange Markup
• You need to preload a travel card
• Less exposure if your card is stolen
• Less fees and better rates
• The apps are much more sophisticated

Wise (formerly Transferwise)

• If I have a travel card, should I still bring cash with me abroad?

Where can I use my Travel Card?

Do i need to tell the bank that i’m travelling or where i’m going.

• What happens if I lose my travel card abroad?
• Help! I have a travel card but I’m still being charged ATM fees

Steph’s tips for using your travel card

What fees am i paying for a regular debit/credit card.

All bank cards are different, but generally, there will be three ways in which you will be hit financially by using your regular day-to-day banking debit or credit card abroad. These three fee amounts vary slightly from bank to bank, but I have used the average fees below. Most banks publish their fee structure on their website, so to find out what your bank charges you to use your card abroad, look on their website.  For example, here are the fees I would pay to use my First Direct card abroad.

1. Foreign Transaction fees

These fees are paid on any transaction that is made abroad – whether you’re withdrawing cash or paying by card. The exact fee varies depending on who you bank with, but usually, they are about 3%.

This may look like an insignificant amount of money per transaction, but think about how much they can add over time. If you have saved €20,000 for a 6-month trip and use your regular bank card,  €600 of this will go on transaction fees alone.  That’s €600 just handed straight back to your bank.

2. Withdrawal fees

Your bank charges These fees when you withdraw cash from an ATM.  Again, these differ from bank to bank, but they usually start at 2%, and there is a set minimum and maximum amount for this fee. This fee is charged in addition to the 3% transaction fee outlined above.

To use HSBC / First Direct as an example, the cash withdrawal fee starts at £1.75 and is capped at £5. This means that on top of paying 3% extra for your cash with the transaction fee, you’re also paying at least £1.75 to take your own money out of the ATM abroad.

Both of these fees will usually appear on your bank statement or online banking app alongside the transaction details.

3. Foreign Exchange Markup

Most people already know that using their bank card abroad comes with a set of fees. These are easily identifiable on your online banking statement, so you are aware you are paying them. However, not as many people are aware that your bank will also charge an exchange rate markup when you are taking your cash out abroad.  This is not as easily spotted on your bank statement, so most people don’t even realise they’re paying this.

Here’s how this works:

When you take out cash abroad, your bank will apply an FX rate to the local currency you withdraw to convert it to your home currency and subtract this amount from your total balance. Usually, they will apply a markup to this rate, meaning you are charged more than the mid-market exchange rate.

For example, I just paid for something for $6 USD with my First Direct account. They applied their FX rate and charged £4.65 to my current account. If I go to Wise.com and use the FX calculator on their homepage, I can see that Wise would have charged me £3.85 for this transaction.  This means I have paid 80p more for this item just by using First Direct’s FX rate. On top of this, First Direct also charged me a Foreign transaction fee of 12p, bringing the total I have overpaid to 92p.

Imagine this is happening day in and day out. These three fees, of varying amounts, are applied to every cash withdrawal or chip-and-pin transaction you make. For every online purchase you make in a different currency (don’t forget about those!), Think about how much more you spend daily using your regular bank card abroad. All this while you are using budgeting apps, haggling to keep costs down, and saving pennies here and there just to give them right back to your bank. This is precisely why we started using travel cards.

How do travel cards differ from regular bank cards?

Travel cards are very similar to your regular bank card. The setup is a little different (you have to preload the card), but the day-to-day use is the same (use it in an ATM or pay by card in a shop). Here are a few of the main differences between travel cards and regular bank cards.

You need to preload a travel card.

The main difference in using a travel card versus your regular bank card is that you need to pre-load money onto your travel card before you use it; the card is not just hooked up to your bank account (although some of the cards can be used like a regular current account).

When you open an account with one of the banks below, you will be given an account number and BSB / sort code for your account, which will be easily found in the app. Set this account up as a payee with your regular bank, and you can transfer money using your bank’s app to send it to your travel account. It’s incredibly easy and doesn’t require a laptop or any phone calls; just using your bank app.

Preloaded cards are nothing new, but what has changed in recent years is that technology is so much better! It’s now quicker and easier to transfer your money onto your travel card –  I often do it when I’m standing at a till paying for something.

But this means you have less exposure if your card is stolen

The benefit of using pre-loaded cards is that if your card is skimmed or stolen, the person who stole it will only have access to the limited amount of money on the card when they got access to it. They can’t hook into your current account and drain it; they can only take what is on the travel card.

This is why I transfer money weekly instead of monthly onto my travel card and never transfer a large sum.

You pay less fees and better rates.

The most important difference between regular bank cards and travel cards is the fees you pay. Much like banks, all travel cards are slightly different in terms of fee structure. Lucky for you, we have tried quite a few, and I have a detailed outline of the fees for different cards below so that you can compare them. Here is a quick look at the fee differences between travel and bank cards.

Bank Cards v Travel Cards at a Glance:

• Most travel cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees; most bank cards charge around 3%.
• Most travel cards don’t charge cash withdrawal fees unless you hit a certain cash limit (starting from €200 per month); most bank cards charge withdrawal fees on every cent you take out AND have a minimum fee so you can’t avoid this charge by taking out small amounts.
• Travel cards offer better foreign exchange rates than standard banks.

As you can see, using travel cards can save you a lot of money over time. They won’t completely eliminate all costs associated with spending your money abroad but will bring them down considerably.

The apps are much more sophisticated.

I first started using travel cards to save money on fees, but I’ve continued using them because the technology is so good! Travel card companies have invested heavily in tech, creating incredibly sophisticated apps that they are constantly updating and improving – which put my regular banking apps to shame!

You can easily analyse your spending, create a budget, a savings vault, order new cards, lock your card if you can’t find it – and unlock it when you find it again, open accounts in various countries, and send money to other people and accounts. All of this can be done in-app, giving you much power over your money and how you spend it. The security features in these apps were what I found so impressive to begin with. After so much time spent on hold with First Direct to unlock my card, it was great to be able to do this so easily.

Wise is my go-to for sending money anywhere in the world or finding out the best FX rates. Even if you don’t end up ordering a card, you can still download the apps below and have a look through the features.

The Top Travel cards at a glance

Here is an outline of the best travel cards we used so you can see the fees you pay and the different services they offer. There are links where you can apply for the cards; some of these offer you cash in return, and others are standard links.

• Card issuer:  Mastercard
• Available to anyone living in the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States.
• Free to create an account and order your first card but £4.99 standard delivery charge is charged.
• Fee-free cash withdrawals up to £200, 2% thereafter
• No transaction fees for overseas payments
• Interbank exchange rate with no markup (except Thai and Ukranian, and at weekends)
• Location based security – if this feature is switched on and your phone is not nearby then the transaction will be declined.
• Multi-currency accounts
• Premium accounts available with perks like travel insurance
• Great mobile app with features like savings ‘vaults’, spending analytics
• Supports Apple Pay

Sign up for Revolut here!

• Available worldwide
• Interbank exchange rate + small currency conversion fee
• Real bank account details in GBP, EUR, USD, NZD and AUD
• Allows you to send money internationally at low rates
• Top bank for digital nomads
• Mobile app allows you to view transactions, manage card security, convert between currencies, send money internationally

Sign up for Wise here!

Starling bank.

• UK residents only
• Fee-free cash withdrawals with  no limit
• You can create a joint account for shared spending

Sign up for a Starling card here

Should i still bring cash with me if i have a travel card.

Luckily, these days most countries have a good ATM network, meaning you’re never too far from cash as long as you have a debit or credit card. Drawing out money as you need it means you can avoid carrying loads of cash everywhere (or leaving it in a hotel room), which would make you a target for thieves. You also avoid local money exchanges, which often make their money ripping off tourists with terrible exchange rates and in some cases run scams to extract even more of your hard-earned dough. We tend to arrive in a country and take out cash at the ATM when we arrive.

Having said that, you should always have a bit of cash hidden away in case of an emergency. US dollars are the most globally accepted currency, so we tend to bring $100 cash with us when we travel – just in case we’re ever stuck.

Unlike regular banks, travel card providers kind of assume you’re going to be jet-setting around the world when using their card. There’s no need to notify them when you’re going away or where you are going.

Mastercard powers all of the above cards, so they can generally be used worldwide at any ATM or POS where Mastercard is accepted.  There are some countries where Mastercard is not accepted, which are:

Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo and DR of Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Palestinian Territories, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

What if I lose my travel card while I’m abroad?

The only major downside to relying on a travel card as you travel is that if the card gets lost, blocked, stolen or eaten by an ATM, you’re pretty much stuck. Card skimming is rife in major travel destinations, meaning that even if you’re super careful if you travel for long enough, you’re bound to have a card blocked at some point. It’s tough to get a replacement card sent to you when your current address is some hostel dorm bed and you don’t know where you’ll be in 3 days!

For that reason, I recommend getting multiple travel cards so that you’ll have backups if you lose one. All of the companies in this article offer free accounts with cards, so sign up for a few and keep the cards in separate places in case you lose a bag or your wallet gets stolen. If you’re travelling with a partner or friend, make sure they do the same – that way you’re unlikely ever to be stuck without any usable cards between you. Several of these cards have monthly limits on free withdrawals, so signing up for a few also means you have a much higher limit before you start having to pay to withdraw your money!

Help! I have a travel card, but I’m still being charged ATM fees

Some ATM operators will charge you their own fees, regardless of the type of card you’re using. Your card provider does not control these fees, so you’ll be forced to pay them even if you’re using a travel card.

In some countries (such as Thailand) this is standard practice across all ATMs, so these charges are unavoidable. In this case, the best thing to do is try to pay by card when you can and to draw out as much cash in one transaction as possible so you only pay the fee once.

Most often only commercially-run ATMs will charge these fees, and bank ATMs will not charge any. These commercially-run ATMs are common around Europe and should be avoided wherever possible. Just remember, as long as you haven’t hit your monthly cash withdrawal limit, you won’t be paying any fees to your travel card provider.

We have been using travel cards for a few years now, and here are some tips and advice I have for anyone using them for the first time:

• Always pay in the local currency if you’re asked at the till or an ATM. Paying in the local currency means that your card provider will apply their own better exchange rates. Otherwise, the merchant will apply their (terrible) foreign exchange markup to the conversion, and you’ll end up paying more for your item. The merchant/ATM will usually make it look like they’re offering a better deal by charging in your home currency, but this is misleading. They want you to choose that option because it makes them a lot of money – a travel card or even a standard bank card will almost always offer a better exchange rate.
• If you are travelling in a couple, don’t share a card / account. As you can see above, cash withdrawal fees kick in when you take out more than €200 / £200 per month. Having two accounts means that you are essentially doubling your cash free allowance to €400 / £400!
• For the same reasons as above, we have Revolut cards, Wise cards, and Starling cards. This means we never pay cash withdrawal fees, and if one card gets lost / stolen / damaged we have many backups!
• If your card is skimmed or stolen, go into the app and freeze it immediately. If you’re worried about card security, like I was in Bali (card skimming is common there), here’s what I used to do. I would keep my card frozen all the time. Each time I would go to an ATM, I would unfreeze my card, take out my cash, freeze it again. It was the same for when I was paying by card. This may seem overkill, but we had five cards skimmed, and I was down to my last one! I don’t do it in Thailand.
• When you’re booking trains / flights etc as you travel, pay attention to the currency you pay in. Many booking websites in Asia automatically charge in the local currency, but you can switch to your local currency to pay. Often when you opt to pay in your home currency, they charge an FX markup here so you end up paying more than if you paid in the local currency with your travel card. This is something to be mindful of.
• If you use Revolut , you can switch on a feature that rounds up all of your purchases and puts the extra pennies into a savings vault. You barely notice the difference when you pay, but this money all adds up and you can splurge on a better hotel or activity you want to do.
• Wise has a great travel card, but they are also excellent for transferring money to different countries. When we left Australia, we wanted to move our savings back to our accounts in the UK. We looked into it and realised it is so expensive to take money out of Oz.  To avoid fees, we opened an AUD account with Wise, which gave us an Australian account number and BSB.  This way we could transfer our money from our Commonwealth bank account to the Wise AUD account with no fees, and transfer that money again from Wise to our UK account. It saved us hundreds of pounds! If you are living abroad and want to send money home – check out Wise.
• Always turn on spending alerts, so that you get a notification when you buy anything with your card. This was how we found out our card was skimmed each time and we were able to instantly lock it down and prevent more money from being taken.

Hopefully I’ve shown you how useful travel cards are, and why you need them for your next trip. Whether you’re going backpacking or just like to take shorter trips away, I recommend getting one of these cards. You’ll save a lot of money, and also be able to keep your money more secure as well as make it go further!

For more money management tips, check out my post 10 Simple Ways To Save Money For Travelling.

Thanks for reading steph.

stephmylifetravel

Backpacker visa guide to south east asia, 48 hours in florence, you may also like, 10 simple ways to save money for travelling.

Wow, this is the most comprehensive & straightforward blog on travel cards. We’re off to South America in 5 weeks and I’ve just ordered 3 cards! Thank you so much for the info. Happy travels.

What an excellent post Steph. All the questions I had were pre-empted by the text. Thank you because it takes time to compile this time of information.

Excellent up to date blog Steph. We are world traveller’s like you so have learned the hard way and endorse everything you have said plus gained some useful tips as every day is a school day. Well done ! You’ve spent time on this and will save your Western folk a lot of money.

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• Credit cards
• Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards

Best No-Annual-Fee Cards For Travel Of March 2024

Fact Checked

Updated: Mar 28, 2024, 3:21pm

Using a travel rewards credit card has long been celebrated as an easy strategy to travel the world for less. Consumers can apply for rewards credit cards and earn points and miles on everyday spending, then redeem rewards for airfare, hotel stays, rental cars and more.

The annual fees travel cards often charge can be worth it if you use the benefits you receive, but not everyone wants to pay a fee to hold a card. Fortunately, many travel credit cards offer benefits for no annual fee.

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor

Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the credit card methodology for the ratings below.

• 113 countries visited
• 5500 hotel nights spent
• 93,000,000 miles and points redeemed
• 29 loyalty programs covered

Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

• Chase Freedom Flex℠ * : Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Card With Rotating Categories
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best Flat-Rate No-Annual Fee Travel Card
• Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card : Best No-Annual-Fee Flat-Rate Cash-Rewards Card for Travel
• Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card : Best for Everyday Spending
• Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card * : Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Union Card for Travel
• Discover it® Cash Back : Best No-Annual-Fee Card To Earn Cash Back on Travel
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express : Best No Annual Fee Amex Card for Travel
• Bilt World Elite Mastercard® : Best No-Annual-Fee Card To Earn Rewards on Rent
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card * : Best No-Annual-Fee Card for Dining
• Hilton Honors American Express Card : Best No-Annual-Fee Card for Hilton
• Amex EveryDay® Credit Card * : Best for Earning Membership Rewards Points
• United Gateway℠ Card : Best No-Annual-Fee Airline Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card * : Best No-Annual-Fee Hotel Card
• Best Credit Cards Of 2024
• Credit Cards With Travel Insurance
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card For Lounge Access
• Best Airline Credit Cards

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Up to 3X Reward Rate

Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up – like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming Read More

Welcome Bonus

20,000 bonus points

Regular APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Credit Score

Good, Excellent (700 - 749)

• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value.
• Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up – like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
• $0 annual fee.
• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards of 2024

Best no-annual-fee travel card with rotating categories, chase freedom flex℠ *.

Up to 5% Reward Rate

Earn 5% cash back in categories that rotate quarterly on up to $1,500 when enrolled, 5% on travel purchased through Read More

$200 bonus + 5% on Gas and Grocery (excluding Target and Walmart)

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Excellent, Good (700 - 749)

This card has the brawn to handle just about all of your credit card spending needs without an over-inflated price tag. The card has an annual fee of $0, yet comes with a pumped-up earnings structure that covers a wide swath of expenses including travel, drugstores and dining plus rotating quarterly bonus categories in areas many households are likely to find appealing.

• No annual fee
• Rotating quarterly categories earn 5% rewards when activated, up to a combined quarterly $1,500 maximum
• Travel rewards rate rivals some of the best premium travel cards
• Generous rewards rate in several other categories
• Travel bookings must be made through Chase Travel℠ to earn 5% cash back
• Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 5% cash back on combined gas station and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1% on all other purchases

Best Flat-Rate No-Annual Fee Travel Card

Chase freedom unlimited®.

Up to 6.5X Reward Rate

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, after that 5% on Chase Read More

Up to $300 cash back

A good overall spending card that allows you to hold a balance on new purchases with a low introductory APR, pay no annual fee, and still earn at least 1.5% cashback on all purchases

• Generous welcome offer for a no annual fee card
• Unlimited 1.5% minimum earn rate for cash-back rewards
• No minimum redemption amount
• Foreign transaction fee
• Ongoing balance transfer fee is high
• Requires a companion card to transfer points to travel partners
• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
• No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Best No-Annual-Fee Flat-Rate Cash-Rewards Card for Travel

Wells fargo active cash® card.

Unlimited 2% Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

$200 Cash Rewards

The Wells Fargo Active Cash offers an unlimited 2% cash rewards rate on purchases and charges no annual fee. This puts it in competition with the best flat-rate cash back cards on the market.

• Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
• $0 annual fee
• Cell phone protection benefit
• There’s a balance transfer fee
• There’s a foreign transaction fee
• No travel transfer partners
• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
• No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.

Best for Everyday Spending

Earning 3 points per dollar spent on a wide range of spending—including restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit and popular streaming services—for no annual fee, the Wells Fargo Autograph is a powerhouse.

• No foreign transaction fee
• Introductory APR period
• Plentiful reward points categories
• Protections include cell phone insurance
• Balance transfer fee
• No introductory balance transfer APR

Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Union Card for Travel

Alliant cashback visa signature credit card *.

Up to 2.5% Reward Rate

Those eligible for Tier 1 Rewards earn 2.5% cashback on the first $10,000 of qualifying eligible purchases per billing cycle Read More

17.49% - 27.49% variable

Excellent (750 - 850)

If you regularly rack up your monthly balance, the 2.5% return on the Alliant card is hard to beat. The downsides are that excellent credit is recommended before you apply for the card and the lack of a welcome bonus.

• 2.5% cash back rate on up to $10,000 in monthly purchases for eligible accounts (then 1.5%)
• No foreign transaction fees
• Generous credit line
• No intro APR offer
• No welcome bonus
• Requires a companion checking account with balance, direct deposit and e-statement requirements
• Earn up to 2.5% cash back with no categories to track on up to $10,000 in purchases each billing cycle with qualifying accounts. All other purchases earn 1.5%
• You can choose to receive cash back from your Alliant credit card via a credit card statement credit (appearing within one billing cycle) or as a deposit into your Alliant checking or savings
• Up to $5,000 of Personal Identity Theft Protection for covered expenses to restore your identity

Best No-Annual-Fee Card To Earn Cash Back on Travel

Discover it® cash back.

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, Read More

Cashback Match™

17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Excellent/Good

For moderate spenders who are willing to activate the 5% rotating categories and track the quarterly spending cap, this no-annual-fee card can deliver tidy rewards outside of its ongoing 1% earning rate.

• 5% cash back on quarterly rotating spending categories throughout the year (activation required)
• Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
• No minimum cashback redemption
• 5% bonus cashback rate is limited to $1,500 per quarter in spending
• Bonus categories must be activated quarterly
• Low 1% base reward rate on everything else
• INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
• Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
• No annual fee.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Best No Annual Fee Amex Card for Travel

Blue cash everyday® card from american express.

Up to 3% Reward Rate

Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases in the U.S. on up to Read More

19.24%-29.99% Variable

Excellent/Good (700 - 749)

For no annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers excellent value in the right hands. Spending a lot at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations brings plump rewards, while the introductory APR rate on purchases helps keep your interest expenses down. Look elsewhere for foreign transactions.

• Introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
• Above-average earnings at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and online retail purchases in the U.S.
• Elevated earnings at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases in the U.S. are capped at $6,000 in annual spending per category
• Rewards earning outside of the bonus categories is just 1% cash back
• Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.
• Terms Apply.

Best No-Annual-Fee Card To Earn Rewards on Rent

Bilt world elite mastercard®.

Up to 3x Reward Rate

1x on rent payments with no transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each calendar year). 2x points on travel Read More

Good/Excellent (700 - 749)

Pay rent, earn rewards and use your earnings for travel. Sounds like a great way to maximize your rent money to us.

• Earn rewards on rent
• Primary car rental and cell phone insurance
• Points can be transferred to partners
• Requires five card transactions per statement period to earn rewards
• High regular APR range
• Rewards outside of rent spend are relatively low compared to other cards
• Earn points when you make 5 transactions that post each statement period
• 1x points on rent payments with no transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
• 2x points on travel (when booked directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company)
• 3x points on dining
• Plus 1x points on other purchases
• Cell Phone Insurance
• Purchase security (theft and damage protection)
• Mastercard® World Elite Concierge
• Lyft Credits
• No foreign currency conversion fee
• Rewards & benefits terms

Best No-Annual-Fee Card for Dining

U.s. bank altitude® go visa signature® card *.

Up to 4X Reward Rate

Earn 4 points per dollar on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery and 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, grocery Read More

18.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Excellent Credit (750 - 850)

With no foreign transaction fee and industry-leading earnings on dining, the Altitude Go could get you up into the air quickly.

• No penalty APR
• Generous rewards for a no annual fee card
• Annual credit toward eligible streaming services
• No bonus reward tier for entertainment spending
• Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. That’s a $200 value redeemable towards merchandise, gift cards, cash back, travel and more
• 4 points per dollar spent on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery
• 2 points per dollar spent on streaming services and a $15 credit for annual streaming purchases
• 2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores and delivery, gas stations, and EV charging stations (excluding discount stores, supercenters and wholesale clubs effective September 9, 2024)
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
• Points never expire

Best No-Annual-Fee Card for Hilton

Hilton honors american express card.

Up to 7X Reward Rate

Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Read More

Earn 100,000 points

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Good,Excellent (700 - 749)

A good intro into the Hilton world without paying an annual fee, the Hilton Honors Card from American Express brings you a few nice perks. But if you’re a serious Hilton traveler, you’ll want to look at one of the higher end cobranded Hilton cards offered by American Express.

• High point earning rates
• Generous welcome bonus
• Automatic Silver status includes fifth night free on award stays
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
• No blackout dates
• Low point redemption value
• Silver status comes with limited benefits
• Poor transfer rate to airline partners
• Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.

Best for Earning Membership Rewards Points

Amex everyday® credit card *.

Up to 2x Reward Rate

Earn 2X points at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1X); Earn 2X points at American Express Read More

Earn 10,000 points

18.24% - 29.24% variable

If you are looking for a solid intro APR offer and frequently spend at US supermarkets, this is the card for you.

• Possible to earn 20% bonus on all points earned
• 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar)
• 2.7% foreign transaction fee
• Spending cap on bonus points at grocery stores
• Requires 20 purchases per month to earn 20% bonus
• Earn 10,000 membership rewards points after spending $2,000 in qualifying purchases in the first 6 months of card membership
• Earn 2 points per dollar spent on qualifying purchases at US supermarkets up to $6,000 per year (then 1 point)
• Earn 2 points for every dollar when you use your card to book your trip through American Express Travel
• Earn 1 point for every eligible dollar you spend on everything else
• You can use membership rewards points towards eligible charges you make on your card, such as retail, dining, entertainment and more
• Use your card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases

Best No-Annual-Fee Airline Card

United gateway℠ card.

Up to 2x Rewards Rate

2X miles per $1 spent on United purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. 1 mile per Read More

• Earn 20,000 bonus miles

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

With its simple and respectable rewards rates, plus Visa Signature benefits, casual fliers who are loyal to United will find value in United’s only card with no annual fee.

• Earn 2 miles on purchases with United, at gas stations and on local transportation
• Enjoy expanded United award travel availability
• Earns only 1 mile per dollar spent on non-bonused purchases
• No free checked bag or enhanced boarding benefits
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
• Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card

Best No-Annual-Fee Hotel Card

Marriott bonvoy bold® credit card *.

3 points per dollar spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program, 2 points per dollar on other Read More

Earn 30,000 bonus points

21.49% - 28.49% variable

One of several Marriott credit cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card is the only one without an annual fee. It’s a smart entry-level card for travelers who want to earn points in the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program and enjoy Silver Elite status.

• The first Bonvoy Rewards card with no annual fee
• 15 Elite Night credits per year + Silver Elite status
• Rewards bonus categories are somewhat limited
• 5% fee for balance transfers
• Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on your first 3 months of account opening.
• Earn 3X points per dollar spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
• Plus, earn up to 10X points from Marriott for being a Marriott Bonvoy member
• 15 elite night credits annually, enough for Silver Elite status, terms apply

Here’s a Summary of the Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

More about the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

Navigating the world of credit cards means finding the combination of pros and cons that offer the best value for your needs. A card rewarding your unique spending habits and goals will outperform one that is seemingly best for the average consumer, so make sure to evaluate each card for your specific uses.

Be aware that cards with no annual fee often charge other types of fees. In addition to interest charges incurred when a balance is carried, cardholders may also face penalty charges, including over-limit fees and late payment fees, as well as fees for foreign transactions, cash advances and balance transfers.

If you’re looking for a cash-back credit card and want the option to redeem points for travel, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ * may be exactly what you need. This card lets you earn a strong base rate of rewards for each dollar you spend, and you can redeem points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise or travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.

Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 5% cash back on combined gas station and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Chase Freedom Flex℠ * may be marketed as a cash-back credit card, but you can redeem rewards for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Since you can also redeem your rewards for statement credits at a rate of 1 cent per point, you can cover travel purchases charged to your card as well.

This card paired with a premium Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card can provide extra leverage as points are worth 1.25 to 1.5 cents each when redeemed through the Chase travel portal depending on which premium card you have. Carrying both the Flex card and a premium Chase card also gives you the opportunity for 1:1 transfers to Chase’s airline and hotel partners like United and Hyatt.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ * offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. Balance transfer fee of up to 5% (min. $5) of the amount of each transfer applies. This makes the card a solid option if you want to charge a big purchase and pay down your balance over time without worrying about interest for the duration of the 0% introductory APR period.

The card’s benefits also include purchase protection against damage and theft and extended warranties for eligible items.

Those looking to get into the Chase ecosystem with a no-annual-fee card might want to consider the flat-rate Chase Freedom Unlimited® .

Welcome bonus: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, worth up to $300 cash back.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases, plus an additional 1.5% cash back on the first $20,000 in purchases the first year.

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® may not be the best choice for those who like to travel abroad because it charges a foreign transaction fee. On the plus side, it offers an introductory APR: 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days of account opening. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer applies.

If you’re looking for a card to boost your travel funds but prefer a cash rewards card, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card may be the way to go.

Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers up to $600 per claim in cellphone protection (subject to a $25 deductible) when you pay a monthly cellphone bill with the card, terms apply.

It also offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies.

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is excellent for everyday spending with bonus categories that most people will have no problem using.

Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card also offers an introductory 0% APR: 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening. A variable APR of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% applies for purchases after the intro period ends and for balance transfers. The card has a balance transfer fee of up to 5%, minimum $5. Cardholders can also benefit from cellphone protection, roadside dispatch and an auto rental collision damage waiver.

The Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card * offers the potential for a high rate of cashback, although this rate is limited to the first $10,000 in purchases each month. However, this will likely be sufficient for most people’s monthly spending.

Welcome bonus: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Rewards: Earn up to 2.5% cash back with no categories to track on up to $10,000 in purchases each billing cycle with qualifying accounts. All other purchases earn 1.5%.

Other benefits and drawbacks: You’ll have to join Alliant Credit Union to be eligible to apply for this card and to achieve the highest rate of cashback, you’ll have to have an average daily balance of at least $1,000 in your Alliant High-Rate Checking account for each preceding calendar month. The Alliant Cashback card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

The Discover it® Cash Back isn’t specifically marketed as a travel card, but cashback can be used for anything—including travel, so we’ve included it here. This card offers solid rewards as long as you can remember to activate the quarterly categories. It also offers a non-traditional but impressive welcome bonus for those who spend plentifully on the card.

Welcome bonus: Discover will automatically match all the cash back earned at the end of the first year as a cardmember. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500 in spending when activated. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Discover it® Cash Back offers a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and eligible balance transfers. Then, a standard rate of 17.24% - 28.24% variable applies. A balance transfer fee of up to 5% of the amount transferred applies. It also offers online privacy protection tools and free social security number alerts.

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Terms apply, see rates & fees ) is a solid option for those looking to earn cash back from American Express.

Welcome bonus: Earn $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months.

Rewards: Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases in the U.S. (on up to $6,000 in each category per year in purchases, then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers an introductory APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and on balance transfers requested within 60 days of account opening, followed by a variable APR of 19.24%-29.99%. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies. Cardholders can also benefit from access to Amex Offers, up to $84 in credit ($7 monthly) for a Disney Bundle subscription and a $180 Home Chef credit. Additional benefits include purchase protection ¹ and car rental loss and damage insurance ² .

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard®  ( rates & fees ) lays the claim as the first card that offers the ability to pay rent and earn points on those purchases. For those who pay rent, it’s a great way to earn a bunch of additional points each year.

Rewards: Earn 1 point per dollar on rent payments without the transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each calendar year), 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 points per dollar on travel (when booked through the Bilt Travel Portal or directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company), and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Other benefits and drawbacks: Bilt points can be transferred at a 1:1 rate to various transfer partners, including American Airlines and Hyatt. The card also offers cellphone protection, various travel benefits and the ability to earn bonus points (and sometimes other benefits) once per month on Rent Day, though you must use the card five times each statement period to earn points ( rewards & benefits ).

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card * earns points that you can redeem for merchandise, gift cards, cash back or travel, all at a value of 1 cent per point. It offers reasonable earn rates for a no-annual-fee card.

Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 4 points per dollar on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery, 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, grocery delivery, gas stations, streaming services and on EV charging stations (excluding discount stores, supercenters and wholesale clubs effective September 9, 2024) and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Other benefits and drawbacks: Cardholders can also benefit from a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles, followed by a regular variable APR of 18.24% - 29.24%. A balance transfer fee of 3% applies ($5 minimum). The card also offers a $15 annual streaming bonus for services like Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify and others.

The Hilton Honors American Express Card (Terms apply, see rates & fees ) offers the ability to earn Hilton Honors points for each dollar you spend and automatically qualify for elite perks.

Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership, offer ends 4/17/24.

Rewards: Earn 7 Hilton Honors points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5 points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations and 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers robust earning categories that let you earn bonus points in many common areas of spending.

Cardholder benefits include automatic Silver status, but you can move up to Gold status if you spend at least $20,000 on your credit card within a calendar year. If you expect to spend this much on your card each year, it may make sense to get a card that automatically provides a higher level of Hilton status and place the spending on a card that will net you more rewards overall.

Those looking for an Amex Card but with a preference to earn Membership Rewards instead of cash back should consider the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card * .

Welcome bonus: Earn 10,000 points after spending $2,000 in qualifying purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1X), 2 points per dollar when using the card to book trips through American Express Travel and 1 point for every eligible dollar on everything else. Plus, use the card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases.

Other benefits and drawbacks: When you use your Amex EveryDay® Credit Card * 20 or more times per billing cycle, you’ll earn a 20% bonus on all points earned during that billing cycle. This card also offers access to Amex Offers, car rental loss and damage insurance and purchase protection.

United isn’t the only airline with a no-annual-fee card, but it’s the best no-annual-fee airline offering. The United Gateway℠ Card provides a few valuable benefits when a cardholder flies United.

Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Other benefits and drawbacks: Holders of the United Gateway℠ Card receive 25% off United in-flight purchases made on the card. It also offers an auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

Those looking for more United benefits, including a free checked bag when flying with the airline, should consider the United℠ Explorer Card that has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Read more: United Airlines MileagePlus: The Ultimate Guide

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card * is a decent option for those wanting to earn Marriott points without paying an annual fee. If you’re really looking for a Marriott-specific card, you should also ask yourself: Which Marriott Card is right for me ?

Welcome bonus: Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program, 2 points per dollar on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains) and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Marriott Bonovy Bold offers complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver status and 15 Elite Night credits each year that may help you qualify for higher levels of elite status. The card also offers various travel and purchase coverage like baggage delay insurance and purchase protection, and it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

Methodology

Forbes Advisor compared dozens of travel credit cards from all major issuers to find the best options with no annual fee. Factors we looked at include:

• Earning rates
• Welcome offers
• Introductory APR
• Consumer protections
• Automatic elite status
• Multiple redemption options

Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards

What Does No Annual Fee Mean?

No annual fee means the credit card company does not charge you to maintain the credit card. No annual fee does not mean you should expect no fees at all—you might still pay interest, over-limit fees, late payment fees or a foreign transaction fee. Carefully consult your cardholder agreement and the Schumer box therein.

Why Do Credit Cards Have Annual Fees?

When a credit card charges an annual fee, it means the issuer is charging the cardholder directly to maintain the account. Once a credit card is activated, this type of flat fee isn’t impacted by how the card is used or by any other factors within the cardholder’s control—it simply recurs for as long as the account stays open. Most commonly, an annual fee is billed on the anniversary month of the credit card account’s opening. The cost of these fees can vary dramatically.

Annual fees are, unsurprisingly, not popular, so why do credit card issuers commonly charge them? Traditionally, cards with higher annual fees offer significantly better perks. It’s still common for no-annual-fee cards to fall on the less-generous end of the benefits spectrum. Credit cards designed for individuals with low credit scores and poor application prospects may also charge a high annual fee and a higher APR to offset the theoretically heightened risk assumed by the issuer.

Credit card issuers expect to profit from each offering, and each card represents a calculated compromise between advantages popular among consumers and guarantees or benefits for the issuer. Your choice should focus on the combination of pros and cons providing you the best value.

How Do Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee Work?

No annual fee means the issuer does not charge consumers to carry the credit card. At least in theory, annual fees are levied by issuers to compensate for other aspects of a card considered especially favorable to the cardholder, such as rewards. Though it’s common for these fees to be waived for a year or altogether to attract customers, the most benefit-heavy cards often charge annual fees. Apart from this tradeoff, no-annual-fee credit cards function much like cards with annual fees.

Benefits of No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

Each card offers its own suite of benefits. These vary depending on the issuer, but most credit cards offer at least some of the following:

• Fraud protection (all consumer cards are required to offer a certain degree of protection)
• Introductory APRs
• Rewards earning (in the form of cashback from purchases or points and miles redeemable for airline tickets, hotel stays or other travel)
• Discounts on in-flight food and beverage purchases

No-annual-fee cards may offer fewer of these benefits compared to their counterparts that charge an annual fee.

Who Should Get a No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Card?

Many people can benefit from a no-annual-fee travel credit card. Whether you travel occasionally or all the time, these cards offer benefits targeted toward travelers without charging you anything to hold the card.

• If you’re an occasional traveler: Look for a travel credit card that offers the most benefits for the lowest fee—You can probably find a no-annual-fee card that will fit your needs.
• If you’re a frequent traveler: While you may be able to find a no-annual-fee travel card that works for you, there’s a good chance you would benefit more from one of the best travel cards , many of which do charge an annual fee.

How To Choose the Right Travel Credit Card With No Annual Fee

All the travel credit cards in our ranking allow consumers to earn travel rewards points or cash back without having to pay a fee each year. But there’s more to picking a travel credit card than just finding an option without a fee. The following tips can help shoppers find a card that suits their needs:

• Compare rewards programs: Make sure you’re earning rewards you can actually use. If you plan to pick up a hotel credit card or airline credit card specifically, you’ll want to explore the loyalty program to ensure you understand how it works and whether it makes sense for you. If you never fly, for example, there’s no sense in earning airline miles.
• Consider flexible travel options: Decide whether a  flexible travel credit card might work better. While some cards only let you redeem points within a specific loyalty program, others allow you to cash in points for any travel purchase you want or for additional redemption options like gift cards or merchandise.
• Look at 0% APR offers: Many cards on our list also offer an introductory 0% APR for a limited time. Some of these offers apply only to purchases, but a few apply to balance transfers, as well.
• Look for other cardholder perks: Finally, consider which cards offer the benefits you want most, whether those include no foreign transaction fees, elite status with a loyalty program or travel insurance benefits. Ideally, you’ll find a card with rewards you can use and cardholder perks that make sense for the way you travel.

Find the Best Travel Credit Cards for 2024

Find the best travel credit card for your travel needs.

How To Apply for a No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Card

It is often easiest to compare and apply for credit cards through the card issuer’s website. Though you can often apply over the phone or by mail, these methods may take longer and be less convenient.

Applicants should know their credit scores and credit histories before shopping for cards. No-annual-fee travel credit cards may require good to excellent credit for an application to be successful. The better your score and credit history, the better your chances for approval.

Any applicant can take steps to increase creditworthiness and chances of approval for new cards. These steps include clearing up any outstanding debts carried elsewhere and decreasing your credit utilization ratio , representing how much of your overall available credit is used. Applicants should also become familiar with the card’s terms and conditions and check for any important details in the fine print before applying.

Is a Credit Card With No Annual Fee Worth It?

A credit card with no annual fee, as long as it offers you benefits and rewards that you can use, is worth it. The real question is this: Is there another card that’s better? There may be another no-annual-fee card that offers rewards more in line with your spending habits or benefits that are more valuable to you. There could be a credit card with an annual fee that offers even better rewards and benefits—enough to offset the annual fee—that makes even more sense. It’s worthwhile to take some time to compare the available options so you can find the card that’s best for you.

Bottom Line

Many excellent travel cards offer lucrative rewards and benefits without charging an annual fee. Though no annual fee does not mean the absence of fees altogether, paying an annual fee is only worthwhile if a cardholder can extract at least as much value from that card beyond what the best no-annual-fee card can offer. Carefully do your research before applying for any card, and recognize that just because a card doesn’t charge an annual fee doesn’t mean it won’t stick you with interest and other fees if you don’t manage the account responsibly.

To view rates and fees for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please visit this page . To view rates and fees for Bilt World Elite Mastercard® please visit this page . To view rates and fees for Hilton Honors American Express Card please visit this page . ¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. ¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best credit card with no annual fee and cashback.

There is not one no-annual-fee cash-back card that tops all others, as everyone has a unique credit profile and set of needs. Our list is designed to give you a starting point for your search. If you are looking for a card with no annual fee and category bonuses, consider the Chase Freedom Flex℠ * . If you are looking for no annual fee and simple cash rewards, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.

What benefits are common for no-annual-fee cards?

Each card offers its own suite of benefits. These vary depending on the vendor, but most credit cards offer fraud protection (all consumer cards are required to offer a certain degree of protection), and many offer some sort of rewards or intro APR.

What is the best credit card for airline miles with no annual fee?

We consider the United Gateway℠ Card and the JetBlue Card * to be among the best no-annual-fee airline cards, but the card best for you depends on your spending habits, airline preference and more. Other airlines also offer no-annual-fee options, but all airline cards without an annual fee are light on the benefits compared to annual-fee card peers. If you regularly fly with a specific airline or if you occasionally fly but usually check a bag, consider an airline card with an annual fee. While you may pay an annual fee, the savings from a free checked bag and other benefits could save you money in the long run.

Which no-annual-fee travel cards offer the best welcome bonus?

Welcome bonuses vary not only by the card but by the day. Banks frequently publish new promotions, so welcome bonuses may change without much notice. A couple of cards consistently offering solid welcome bonuses are the Chase Freedom Flex℠ * and the United Gateway℠ Card .

What credit score do I need to get a no-annual-fee travel card?

Generally, rewards cards—including travel credit cards—typically require good to excellent credit even when the card doesn’t have an annual fee. A score in the good range of 670 to 739 may be sufficient for a basic rewards card, but for the strongest rewards, you can expect to need a score of 740 or higher to qualify.

What is the best travel rewards credit card with no annual fee?

The best travel rewards card for you may not be the best travel rewards card for the next consumer. While we believe the Chase Freedom Flex℠ * may be an excellent overall choice for many, we urge you to carefully research whether the card’s reward structure matches your spending habits and if this card’s set of travel benefits and protections will serve you better than another card.

When should I look for a no-annual-fee credit card?

Though many cards in the list of no-annual-fee credit cards above require a more robust credit history than most when initially looking for a credit card , no-annual-fee credit cards make great first credit cards. Many no-annual-fee cards also offer low or 0% introductory APRs on purchases or balance transfers when you need to make a large purchase or complete a balance transfer, but applying for any credit card should only be done when you’re ready for the responsibility associated with a credit card account.

Can you get a no-annual-fee travel card with bad credit?

It may be difficult to qualify for a no-annual-fee travel card with bad credit. You should first consider the best cards for bad credit and focus on improving your credit score to gain access to better credit card products in the future.

Is it hard to qualify for a no-annual-fee travel credit card?

It’s not necessarily hard to qualify for a no-annual-fee travel credit card, but your credit profile will be evaluated when you apply.

Next Up In Credit Cards

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*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Chase Freedom Flex℠, Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card, U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, JetBlue Card . The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Jerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he and his wife enjoy introducing their kids to cultures and cities across the globe as often as they can.

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Airline credit cards vs. travel credit cards: Which are best?

Credit cards aimed at travelers come in various forms, the two most popular being airline credit cards and travel credit cards . While both types of cards can help you pay for travel, several differences may affect your choice.

Choosing a card that best suits your travel needs can be challenging considering how competitive the landscape has become regarding welcome offers, card rewards and other benefits. We review the ins and outs of airline and travel credit cards to help you determine which type of card is right for you.

What is an airline credit card?

Airline credit cards are cobranded cards offered by the issuer and a partner airline that provide benefits for flying with that specific airline. Airline credit cards earn miles associated with the airline's frequent flyer program , which you can redeem for flights on that carrier or its partner airlines.

The annual fee for airline credit cards can range from no annual fee to upward of $500. Usually, an airline credit card with a higher annual fee includes impressive benefits such as increased earning rates, free checked bags and statement credits, among other perks.

For example, the United Quest℠ Card has an annual fee of $250 and offers 8 miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases, up to $125 annual statement credit for United purchases, priority boarding and other impressive benefits.

Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

Pros and cons of airline credit cards

When comparing airline and travel credit cards, there are several reasons why you might prefer an airline credit card. Although not an exhaustive list, the following table highlights the pros and cons of airline credit cards.

When does an airline credit card make sense?

Several factors may play a role in dictating whether an airline credit card makes sense. As a cardholder, if you live near an airport with a hub for a specific airline, having a card for that airline makes sense to maximize your benefits.

For example, residents who live near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), a United hub, should consider a United credit card , such as the United Club℠ Infinite Card or the United℠ Explorer Card , to take advantage of lounges, free checked bags, priority boarding and redemption options for award flights.

If you don't live near an airline hub and aren't committed to a particular carrier, an airline credit card might not be your best option.

Related: The best credit cards to reach elite status

What is a travel credit card?

A travel credit card earns rewards on all purchases, including bonus-earning categories. You can use your rewards to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more. A travel credit card earns rewards within the issuer's own ecosystem rather than through a specific airline frequent flyer program.

Examples of credit card programs include American Express Membership Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards , and Capital One Miles .

Annual fees for travel credit cards can range from nothing to $700, corresponding to the card's perks and benefits. Typically, the higher the annual fee, the more valuable the benefits, whereas the lower the annual fee, the opposite is true.

For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees ) but offers perks and benefits that can easily top $1,000. Benefits include an annual up to $200 hotel credit, an annual up to $200 airline credit, up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue statement credit (up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December; enrollment required), a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit and an entertainment credit for select streaming services.

Travel credit cards can offer other travel-related perks, such as complimentary travel insurance, including emergency travel medical, trip delay or cancellation**, and baggage insurance***.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Related: The best time to apply for these 10 popular travel credit cards, based on offer history

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Based on your personal preferences, travel credit cards may be more appealing than airline cards. Although not an exhaustive list, consider the following travel credit card pros and cons before you apply.

Travel credit cards maximize flexibility for cardholders thanks to their ability to earn transferable currency points . In addition to not being limited to one airline, you can often redeem your points toward hotels, car rentals, cruises, vacation packages and more.

As cards become more premium, so do their benefits, which translates to high annual fees. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $300 annual credit and Priority Pass lounge access but has an annual fee of $550.

When does a travel credit card make sense?

If you are flexible about the airline carriers you choose to fly with, a travel credit card makes sense. You'll benefit from bonus points for travel-related purchases, such as airfare, hotels, rental cars and sometimes parking meters and tolls.

When contemplating between travel and airline credit cards, remember that travel credit cards won't help you earn elite status, unlike some airline cards like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® . The biggest benefit of a travel credit card is the flexibility you get when redeeming your points or miles.

Unlike an airline credit card, travel credit cards have a variety of transfer partners you can use to book your next adventure.

Related: How many credit cards should I have?

Should you get both?

Both airline credit cards and travel credit cards have pros and cons. For example, it pays to have an airline credit card if you regularly check bags for domestic flights, especially considering the increase in checked bag fees across numerous carriers . Meanwhile, travel credit cards offer various travel insurance coverages that can provide peace of mind while traveling.

My very first travel-orientated card was the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® because I found value in American Airlines' award chart and had several American flights lined up for the year in which I needed checked bags.

The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Soon afterward, I opened a Chase Sapphire Reserve for its lounge access, transfer partners and annual travel credit. Nowadays, I use both cards. However, since I have elite status with American, the Citi card's free checked bag is less important. That said, I still hold onto the card to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

Bottom line

Both airline credit cards and travel credit cards offer benefits. They can offset travel costs and provide perks such as priority boarding, free checked bags, lounge access and various statement credits. We recommend choosing a card based on your travel needs and circumstances. You may even benefit from holding both types of cards, as long as you're maximizing the perks.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here .

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How a Travel Credit Card Can Be Your Ticket to Big Savings

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Next time you're planning a vacation, a travel credit card could defray some or all of the costs if it packs the right incentives. Typically, cards with higher annual fees provide the most value with perks like ongoing rewards, free checked bags, airport lounge access or other benefits. But even cards with low or no annual fees make it possible to earn some value toward travel, if you can qualify.

These cards generally require good credit (scores of 690 or higher), and even if you're eligible, it's not worth pursuing one if you can't pay off the credit card bill in full every month to avoid steep interest charges. And if you're working toward paying down existing debt, it might not be worth chasing points and miles until you've made progress on that front.

But as long as travel credit cards align with your financial goals, their potential savings merit consideration — even if you travel just once or twice per year. Explore the flexibility of a general-purpose travel credit card to book travel anywhere, or a branded credit card to book travel with a favorite hotel or airline. Either option may offer money-saving benefits toward your next trip.

Valuable features can lower costs

Offers will vary among general-purpose travel credit cards and airline- or hotel-branded credit cards, but some savings opportunities may include:

If a credit card offers a lengthy list of perks, the value can quickly add up. Here are some features to look out for:

A sign-up offer: Travel credit cards generally come with lucrative sign-up offers that let new cardholders earn a pile of points or miles by meeting a minimum spending requirement. It’s easier to snag if you can strategically time a credit card application around planned purchases during a heavy-spend month or season.

Free checked bags: Some airline credit cards offer free checked bags , which can add up to real savings when applied per person on a round trip. This is one way that Doug Figueroa, a content creator at the YouTube channel Zorito y Doug, makes up the cost of the $150 annual fee on an airline credit card. “The savings are $70 round trip per passenger listed in the same reservation,” he says. 

TSA or Global Entry credit : Some travel cards issue a credit (up to $100) when you use them to pay for a TSA or Global Entry application fee. These expedited airport security screening programs can save time while traveling.

Travel credits: Depending on the card’s terms, travel credits may be used to save money on a variety of travel expenses like rideshare services, airfare or accommodations. 

Airport lounge access: You can skip the pricey airport food with some travel credit cards that offer complimentary airport lounge access . Austin Maxwell, a South Carolina-based content creator at the blog The Maxwells Travel, uses a travel credit card to avoid those costs. “I’m saving $20 to $30 every time I go to the airport because I don’t have to buy food or drinks during a layover or preflight,” he says.

A companion ticket: Some airline credit cards cover the cost of a ticket for a friend or family member. Depending on the card's terms, you may have to pay taxes and fees on the fare, the companion ticket may have an expiration date and/or a spending requirement may apply.

Automatic elite status: You may earn elite status without much effort on some hotel-branded credit cards. Elite status can add up to valuable savings if the program offers free food, bonus points or suite upgrades.  

Free nights: If your favorite hotel has a branded credit card that offers annual free night awards, it can stretch your vacation budget. 

Protections and other benefits

A travel credit card that offers trip delay or cancellation insurance, lost baggage insurance, rental car coverage or other protections may also be of value to you. To qualify for these benefits you typically need to pay for the trip or covered purchase with the eligible credit card. Read the terms carefully to understand the extent of your coverage.

Figueroa says he saved $90 over three days with his card’s primary rental car coverage on a trip to Miami.

“Once you make the online reservation, you must decline all insurance offered by the rental company and pay for everything with your [card],” he says.

High-value reward redemptions

Points or miles on some travel credit cards might lose value if they are used for non-travel redemptions like cash back, gift cards or other options. Travel redemptions typically offer the best value, and you might squeeze out even more value with a general-purpose travel card that allows points to transfer to airline or hotel partners. It’s a strategy that Maxwell uses often to his advantage.

“It’s even better if there’s a transfer bonus associated with that," he says. "Credit card companies offer transfer bonuses — 15%, 20%, 30% bonus — if you are to transfer points to a specific airline.”

He says he has also transferred points to hotel partners to book hotel rooms with them. “It would be the equivalent of getting a hotel room at $120 that’s actually valued at $500,” he adds.

To determine whether to redeem rewards for travel or transfer them to a partner, compare costs by checking the credit card’s booking platform and the partner’s website. Also factor in whether rewards transfer on at least a 1:1 ratio, meaning that you'll get the equivalent value in points or miles transferred.

On a similar note...

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Travel money: How to get the best exchange rates on your holiday currency and top ways to pay abroad

A t sterling’s 21st-century peak in 2008, £1 was worth over US$2 on the foreign exchanges. During the calamitous premiership of Liz Truss , the pound sank almost to parity against the American dollar in October 2022. The UK currency has recovered slightly, but is still only worth $1.26 or so. Sterling’s fall is mirrored against other currencies that are locked to the US$, including UAE dirhams and the dollars used in many Caribbean islands.

Shortly after the euro was introduced at the start of 2002, sterling was riding high: worth €1.65. Today it has shed about 50 euro cents to around €1.15. Against the Swiss franc , the pound has fared even worse – losing half its value in 15 years, corresponding to a doubling of prices for British travellers.

Given the continued erosion in the value of the pound, it is essential to avoid further losses by managing your holiday finances well.

If you leave holiday money to the last moment and change money at the airport on your way out, you will be wasting your cash – which would be much better spent at your destination. In addition, the pandemic accelerated changes in how travellers transact, with contactless payment increasingly the norm.

These are the key questions and answers on holiday money.

Using a credit or debit card

This is a fast and easy method of paying your way, whether with a physical card or a card on a phone. We are now in an age when cards are used for the most minor transactions. Crucially, though, you could be losing a slice of cash every time you use your normal UK bank card abroad.

For most mainstream UK credit and debit cards, banks charge just under 3 per cent (usually 2.95 or 2.99 per cent) as a “foreign currency transaction fee”. Adding almost £3 to a £100 purchase represents free money for them at your expense.

Some also impose an additional “cash advance fee” – sometimes a flat £1.50 or a percentage of up to 5 per cent – for withdrawals from an ATM.

Check your card provider’s policy – which should be easily visible online – and if necessary get a new card specifically for overseas use.

How can I dodge the card fees?

If you are a First Direct customer, your Mastercard debit card is fee-free abroad. For other travellers who seek a simple solution, apply for a Halifax Clarity credit card and use it purely for spending overseas; it does not add transaction fees.

Online firms such as Revolut may offer a better exchange rate. Along with low-cost providers Monzo, Starling Bank and others, Revolut holders can expect fee-free cash withdrawals (usually subject to a monthly limit).

HSBC has an interesting Global Money account, available to most active UK current account holders. Using the bank’s mobile banking app (select “International Services” then “Global Money”) you can create an account that allows you to keep funds in up to 18 currencies, and spend abroad without transaction fees.

Note that an increasing number of ATMs apply their own, local transaction fees – typically €5 in Mediterranean nations. You should be warned of this before you commit to a withdrawal.

Is it best to take a credit or debit card?

Credit cards have several advantages over debit cards. UK-issued cards are covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which makes the card provider jointly liable with the merchant for any purchases over £100. That means any goods you buy with the card must be of reasonable quality.

You are also protected against financial failure of a travel provider, whether an airline, tour operator or hotel – though if you book through an agent the legal position is cloudier.

A credit card also gives you something of a cushion; money does not leave the account immediately, and if you pay off the bill in full every month you should not face interest charges.

Debit cards may incur even higher charges for spending abroad. For example TSB adds a £1 “non-pounds purchase fee” outside the EU to its 2.99 per cent transaction fee for purchases made on a debit card. That inexpensive £16 Turkish lunch bill becomes £17.50 using a TSB debit card, increasing the cost by 9 per cent.

Check before you use your normal debit card abroad – unless you are with First Direct, whose debit cards are fee-free.

The Chase debit card makes an interesting offer: no fees plus 1 per cent cash back, though this applies only for the first year, with a maximum of £15 back per month.

Debit-card purchases are covered by the banks’ voluntary chargeback scheme, which does not offer the same degree of protection as credit cards.

Beware of Dynamic Currency Conversion

“Would you like to pay in sterling?” the waiter asks innocently. He is hoping that you will choose pounds, thereby boosting the restaurant’s profits. Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) means the merchant and a bank give you a terrible rate of exchange and split the profit – typically a margin of 5 to 6 per cent – between them.

Restaurants, shops and hotels are allowed to offer the “opportunity” so long as they make it clear that the cardholder has a choice, and cite the rate of exchange that will be used.

The EU-funded European Consumer Organisation, known as BEUC, adds: “It is almost impossible for a consumer to make an informed decision when presented with the DCC option, because of various ‘nudging’ strategies put in place by the DCC service providers and merchants.”

Always choose to pay with local currency, not “GBP”.

Could I face unexpected charges abroad?

Yes, depending on the location. I have paid credit-card surcharges in Australia and Denmark, and they may pop up elsewhere. In the UK it is illegal to charge extra for paying with a credit card, but that does not apply elsewhere.

Watch out for the ‘hold’ on a credit card

All kinds of enterprises, from car-rental firms to hoteliers concerned about their minibar, demand a credit card. Without one, you might be asked for a hefty cash deposit – or simply refused service. This is because the firm wants some comeback, and to reserve the right to extract additional funds.

If, after you have checked in the car or checked out of the hotel, they find that you have run up a charge, they want to claim it back – and the easiest way to do that is to demand “pre-authorisation” up to a certain amount.

They will exercise a “hold”, which means reserving a chunk of capacity – perhaps as much as £1,000 – from your account for contingencies.

This money will not leave your account (unless there has been some financial chicanery on your part), but it does limit your freedom of financial movement.

Pre-paid cards

These are cards which you load with currency – usually sterling, euros or dollars – and use to pay for goods and services, or to withdraw cash from ATMs. On longer trips, you can keep topping them up online from your bank account, making them good for globetrotting tourists and gap-year adventurers.

You can also hold multiple currencies on the same account – FairFX offers up to 20.

But do your homework. The key components you need to compare start with the initial fee. Some providers waive this, but often make up for it with higher charges elsewhere. Paying a fee now may actually save you more in the longer term.

Next, do you have to pay a “loading” fee to put money on the card? If so, this could prove expensive. Some companies demand 3 per cent of all the money you put on your account. Is there a flat rate or a percentage charge for using the thing? Lastly, how quickly do your funds erode if you don’t use the card for a while? The depletion of value over time is a very useful income stream for the prepaid card issuer.

Should I take cash?

Obtaining local currency locks you into an exchange rate, and therefore you can calculate precisely how much a cup of coffee or a night’s stay costs in sterling. Cash also says less about you than plastic, eliminating the risk of credit-card fraud.

Should I take out currency in the UK or abroad?

Many people use their credit or debit cards to withdraw cash abroad. But on top of any fees added by your card provider, many operators of ATMs abroad charge a Direct Access Fee (DAF). Providing a fully stocked ATM on a Greek island, with all the security and maintenance issues involved, is an expensive business, they point out – and the transaction fee reflects this reality.

So buying ahead of your trip is a good plan. Foreign currency is the ultimate commodity: the euros or dollars you get cheap from a backstreet bureau de change are worth exactly the same as the notes you buy, expensively, at your high street bank. But the only way sensibly to compare rates is to frame the question right: “how many euros will you give me for £300?” or “I need $500, how much will that cost me in sterling?”.

On your local high street, don’t expect much from banks – which now appear to regard changing money as a faff, and often restrict it to existing customers.

Travel agents often offer more competitive rates. And the Post Office is worth checking. But you are almost certain to get a better deal if you shop around online through companies such as Travelex and Moneycorp, and pick up the foreign currency at an airport or ferry port.

For the best deals, it helps to be in London. Search Thomas Exchange Global for some of the best rates. You can pay online and pick up the cash at a Thomas Exchange office.

Better still, take a stroll along Britain’s finest foreign-currency artery: Queensway in London W2. Within a few hundred metres, there are two dozen bureaux de change. It takes 10 minutes to compare rates, and with lots of tourists selling euros or dollars for sterling, there’s a willingness to turn a quick profit.

All of this applies only to the “big” currencies: the euro and dollar, and also the Swiss franc, Canadian and Australian dollars, plus the UAE dinar. You might also want to buy in advance for Scandinavian currencies or New Zealand dollars (weak competition at the destination means rates are rarely good).

But just about every other currency counts as “exotic”, and for these locations the rule is: wait until you get to the country in question. Take clean Bank of England £20 notes (with a few £5 and £10 notes in case you need to change smaller amounts towards the end of your stay).

Turkish currency

The usual advice for European holidays – buy euros in the UK at the best rate you can find – does not apply to for the Turkish lira.

First rule: do not change in large quantities in Britain; you will get a much better rate in Turkey. If you like to have a modest amount of foreign currency for incidentals when you arrive, then I suggest to go to your local post office and change £20 or so into Turkish lira. You won’t get a great rate of exchange, but it will be better than your departure airport. And it is commission-free, which is handy for small transactions like this.

Once at your destination in Turkey, you will soon be able to identify the bureau de change with the best rates for sterling. Even in small towns, there are change opportunities; ask at the tourist office or a travel agency.

Change reasonably small quantities in case there is another sudden collapse of the lira. Little and often is the best way.

When you shop around, note that some places charge commission and some don’t. The sensible question to compare rates is: “How many Turkish lira will you give me for £100?”

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The 6 Best Credit Cards to Use in Ireland in 2024

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Getting read to wander through Dublin's streets and marvel at the Cliffs of Moher? While cash is handy for certain things like cozy pubs and local markets, having the right credit card can make your trip even more enjoyable.

In this guide, we'll explore credit cards that are widely accepted in Ireland and avoid international fees. Plus, these credit cards can earn you rewards while you spend. We'll also recommend some debit cards like Revolut and Wise to use in Ireland when you need to take out some cash for catching a taxi or grabbing a quick bite.

Revolut and Wise offer multi-currency accounts, allowing you to convert your USD balances to Euros at the mid-market rate:

• Revolut : Withdraw $400/mo, then a 2% fee applies (for Standard tier members);
• Wise : Withdraw $100/mo, then a $1.50 charge plus 2% fee applies.

6 Best Travel Credit Cards for Ireland in 2024

• 01. Revolut Standard Card — Cheapest way to get cash and lounge access scroll down
• 02. Wise Multi-Currency Card — Best prepaid travel debit card scroll down
• 03. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Best for dining and travel points scroll down
• 04. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Best intro offer scroll down
• 05. American Express® Gold Card — Best way to redeem at airlines scroll down
• 06. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — Best premium travel card scroll down

What Credit Cards Are Accepted in Ireland?

In Ireland, Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, with American Express being less common but still available in some places. Just make sure to opt for credit cards that bypass foreign transaction fees. We'll outline some of the best options later in this article.

Potential Fees When Using Credit Cards in Ireland

Watch out for these four fees when spending abroad:

• Foreign Transaction Fee: Standard fees typically amount to 3% per transaction, which can quickly accumulate, costing $30 for every $1,000 spent.
• Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) Fee: This is also called a merchant currency conversion fee. Opting for payment in your home currency (USD) instead of local currency (EUR) can result in higher fees. Always choose to pay in EUR in the Republic of Ireland (or GBP if you're in Northern Ireland).
• Cash Advance Fee: Using your credit card to withdraw cash incurs fees imposed by the issuer due to the associated risks.
• ATM Fee: ATMs often charge fees for cash withdrawals. This fee is hard to avoid, but you can try finding a bank within the Global ATM Alliance that waives ATM fees.

How Can I Avoid Fees When Traveling to Ireland?

You can steer clear of fees if you prepare ahead with the right debit and credit card:

• Opt for credit cards that waive foreign transaction fees.
• Always pay in the local currency (EUR) to avoid merchant currency conversion fees. Alternatively, use multi-currency debit cards like Wise and Revolut to avoid the DCC process altogether.
• Use debit cards for cash withdrawals to avoid cash advance fees.
• For cash withdrawals, try finding banks within the Global ATM Alliance . Betterment Checking may also have low to no fees in Ireland.

The Best Credit Cards to Use in Ireland in 2024

Explore the best cards for travel spending in Ireland this vacation season. In addition to a credit card without foreign transaction fees that earns points on purchases, also consider a debit card to take out cash cheaply from ATMs.

Data quoted 14 March 2024

Revolut Travel Multi-Currency Debit Card

Revolut is the best option to take out cash cheaply in Ireland, thanks to its favorable ATM withdrawal policy that allows for $400 worth of free withdrawals each month. By converting your USD ($) deposits to EUR (€) prior to your transaction (which you can do in the mobile app), the ATMs will recognize your Revolut card as local, bypassing the need for dynamic currency conversion .

Moreover, Revolut offers the added luxury of lounge access not only in Cork and Shannon international airports, but also worldwide, at a cost of $37 per person. This one-off cost certainly beats the high annual membership fees charged by lounge-access credit cards. If you are a paid member of Revolut's higher tiers, you'll receive discounts on lounge access and get a suite of travel insurance benefits.

While the paid tiers offer higher allowances and more perks, this is what you'll get under Revolut's Standard plan:

• No monthly fee for the Standard Plan;
• $400 of fee-free ATM withdrawals per month, then a 2% fee;
• Airport lounge passes for $37 per person;
• Supports 35 currency balances including EUR ;
• No FX fee for the first $1,000 exchanged monthly;
• Revolut's FX rate is industry-low, usually ~0.5% ( check live here ).

Learn more: Read our in-depth Revolut review or watch our video review .

• Trust & Credibility 8.9
• Service & Quality 7.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 8.3
• Customer Satisfaction 9.4

Wise Multi-Currency Card

The Wise Multi-Currency Account is well-suited if you just need a small amount in cash in Ireland, since Wise offers a $100 limit on fee-free withdrawals per month. Beyond this, withdrawals incur a $1.50 fee plus 2%.

If you are not going to take out cash, then card or digital wallet purchases with Wise are a great debit option because it applies the mid-market exchange rate on your purchases (Wise will instead charge an industry-low fee of around 0.5%).

However, just remember that Revolut offers a slightly better deal with $1,000 of fee-free exchanges per month, a feature that Wise does not match.

Here are benefits of the Wise multi-currency account at a glance:

• Opening an account costs $0;
• Offers $100 fee-free ATM withdrawals per month;
• Supports over 40 currencies, including EUR;
• Offers foreign bank details for 10 countries;
• Uses the mid-market rate ( check live here ), with a small fixed fee.

Learn more: Read our in-depth Wise review or watch our video review .

• Trust & Credibility 9.3
• Service & Quality 8.9
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.6
• Customer Satisfaction 9.6

Do not fall for the dynamic currency conversion trap.

When prompted by ATMs abroad to pay in either USD or the local currency, always choose the local currency. At ATMs in the Republic of Ireland, always choose to pay in EUR (€); and choose to pay in GBP (£) in Northern Ireland.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a staple in my Apple Wallet, serving as my go-to card for all card transactions. Back when I earned the bonus offer, I was able to pay for a round-trip flight from Japan to California, when redeemed through Chase Travel.

For the perks that Chase offers, the $95 annual fee is very reasonable. You'll pay 21.49%–28.49% variable APR on unpaid balances, so pay your monthly balance on time in full to avoid accumulating interest .

Here's a breakdown of the card's offerings:

• Earn 60,000 points after meeting a $4,000 spend in the first 3 months;
• Get $50 in credits each year for hotels through Chase Travel;
• 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel;
• 2x on other travel purchases;
• 3x points on dining, online groceries , and select streaming services;
• 1x points on all other purchases;
• Each anniversary, get points equal to 10% of total yearly purchases;
• 1:1 point transfer to partners;
• Comprehensive travel and purchase coverage;
• Uses Visa network rate ( check live rate here );
• No foreign transaction fees .

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

My brother chose this card for last year for his international travels, largely for its generous bonus offer and the simplicity of earning 2x miles on every purchase. He was confident he would meet the spending threshold to secure the bonus miles, which helped him cover the entire cost of a US to EU round trip this year. The next time I plan a big flight, this will be the first card I consider to help me with the cost.

The card carries a $95 annual fee, a great trade for the value it delivers, especially for avid travelers. The 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR is similar to that of Chase. It's wise to pay off your full balance monthly to avoid interest.

Here's what makes the Capital One Venture Card a great option for travelers to Ireland:

• Earn 75,000 miles after meeting a $4,000 spend in the first 3 months;
• Unlimited 2x miles;
• Earn 5x miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel;
• If you find a better price with 24 hours, Capital One will match it;
• Get up to $50 in travel credit if price drops within 10 days of booking;
• Emergency replacement and cash advance if card is lost or stolen;
• Flexibility to transfer miles to over 15+ travel loyalty programs;
• Uses Visa ( check here ) or Mastercard network rate ( check here );

American Express® Gold Card

The American Express® Gold Card is an appealing option for those looking for a travel card from American Express, which is known for its points programs. This card is best for domestic spending within the USA since some spending categories can only earn extra points within the country. AMEX has the most airline points transfer partners of any major U.S. credit card loyalty program, making it an ideal card to help you pay for your flight to Ireland.

Some of the best airlines active in Ireland that also allow the transfer of AMEX points include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, and Iberia.

With a $250 annual fee, the AMEX Gold Card is more expensive than the other cards on this list. But when compared to other AMEX cards, this one is fairly average in terms of price (The Green Card has a $150 annual fee while the Platinum Card's fee is $695). AMEX Gold charges a variable APR of 21.24% to 29.24%.

Here are the benefits that come with this AMEX credit card:

• Earn 60,000 points after meeting a $6,000 spend in the first 6 months;
• 4x points at restaurants worldwide;
• 4x points for takeout and delivery in the US;
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year);
• 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AMEX Travel;
• 1x points on other eligible purchases;
• $120 Dining Credit, up to $10 monthly at participating partners;
• $120 Uber Cash, get $10 each month for Uber;
• Receive $100 credit with a two-night minimum stay on AMEX Travel;
• Uses AMEX network rate ( check here );

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X credit card is one of the best-priced premium cards on the market, offering exceptional benefits for frequent travelers. It has an incredible 10x reward rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One's portal and 5x on flight purchases, with 2x on all other purchases. The card essentially pays for itself with a $300 travel credit applicable to any booking through Capital One's travel portal.

The 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR is the same as the regular Venture Rewards card. The main up front difference is the $395 annual fee, as opposed to the Venture card's $95 annual fee.

Here are the key benefits of the Venture X card:

• Earn 75,000 points after meeting a $4,000 spend in the first 3 months;
• Receive 10,000 bonus miles every year starting on first anniversary;
• $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel;
• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®;
• Unlimited lounge access for you and 2 guests worldwide;
• Hertz President’s Circle status for free car upgrades;

What Are the Best Credit Cards to Use in Ireland For Travel in 2024?

Revolut stands out as the best option for withdrawing cash at ATMs in Ireland, thanks to its generous $400 monthly fee-free withdrawal limit. If you exceed this limit, Wise is a reliable backup, also doubling as an excellent debit card for international spending .

When it comes to Chase and Capital One, it's a tough call for me; I'd use both if I wanted. The great AMEX rewards program pays for itself, but also seems like a good tool to use before heading to Ireland.

Ultimately, your choice of card for your trip to Ireland will likely hinge on a mix of cash withdrawal needs , earning points while on your trip, and using accumulated points to pay for your flights:

• Revolut Standard Card — Cheapest way to get cash and lounge access
• Wise Multi-Currency Card — Best prepaid travel debit card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Best for dining and travel points
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — Best intro offer
• American Express® Gold Card — Best way to transfer points to flights
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — Best premium travel

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Credit Card to Use in Ireland

Any US credit card bearing the Visa or Mastercard logo will work in Ireland. Just make sure your card does not charge foreign transaction fees , as these can accumulate quickly.

The Republic of Ireland's official currency is the euro. Notes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500, while they issue coins in 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2.

Just be aware that while euros are the currency of the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland uses the British pound.

Yes, Visa and Mastercard are accepted in nearly all establishments that take cards, like hotels, restaurants, and retail stores.

Using credit cards for cash withdrawals should be considered an emergency option only, as it triggers a cash advance with high APR charges from your bank. For cash withdrawals, we highly recommend you use debit cards to avoid these high fees.

Using credit cards in Ireland can be great for earning points while you spend on travels. It's also a good idea to withdraw cash cheaply from ATMs with a Revolut or Wise debit card (and not with a credit card).

American Express is accepted in some places, but not as commonly as Visa and Mastercard. It will be hard to find ATMs in Ireland that accept AMEX. Discover cards are the least widely accepted overall.

References Used In This Guide

Revolut. Pricing Plans . Accessed 14 March 2024. Revolut. Standard Fees . Accessed 14 March 2024. Wise. Cost to Withdraw Cash . Accessed 14 March 2024. Chase. Sapphire Preferred Credit Card . Accessed 14 March 2024. Capital One. Venture Credit Card . Accessed 14 March 2024. American Express. Gold Credit Card . Accessed 14 March 2024. Capital One. Venture X Credit Card . Accessed 14 March 2024.

Other Guides on Travel Money and the Best Cards to Use Abroad

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What you need to know about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card

• How other travel cards compare to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card
• 4 important details about the Autograph Journey 

This New Travel Credit Card Could Dethrone The Chase Sapphire Preferred

Between its flexible rewards and point-transfer opportunities, the new Wells Fargo card could be a worth-while choice.

Holly Johnson

Contributor

Holly Johnson is a credit card expert and writer who covers rewards and loyalty programs, budgeting, and all things personal finance. In addition to writing for publications like Bankrate, CreditCards.com, Forbes Advisor and Investopedia, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love."

Tiffany Connors

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a senior editor for CNET Money with a focus on credit cards. Previously, she covered personal finance topics as a writer and editor at The Penny Hoarder. She is passionate about helping people make the best money decisions for themselves and their families. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and has been a writer and editor for publications including the New York Post, Women's Running magazine and Soap Opera Digest. When she isn't working, you can find her enjoying life in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband, daughter and a very needy dog.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

Wells Fargo’s newest credit card -- the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card* -- is open for online applicants. It’s a competitive offer that could give incumbent travel credit cards from  Chase ,  American Express  and  Capital One  a run for their money.  

Wells Fargo does one thing better than its competitors: It offers a more flexible rewards program that doesn’t require booking travel in a portal to earn the highest rates.

Here’s why we think the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey could go toe-to-toe with some of  the best travel credit cards , plus four insider tips to help  you  decide if you should add it to your credit card lineup.

Before we dive into the hidden features and benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect with the Autograph Journey:

• Earn 60,000 welcome bonus rewards points after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months of account opening.
• Earn unlimited 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airlines, 3x points on other travel and dining and 1x on other purchases.
• Receive an annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Other benefits include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, roadside dispatch and cell phone insurance.
• $95 annual fee.

How other travel cards compare to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

4 important details about the autograph journey .

Here’s a rundown of four facts we discovered about the Autograph Journey that you should know when deciding whether to apply.

1. You can transfer points with Wells Fargo point-based cards

The launch of the Autograph Journey also marks the first transferable points program from Wells Fargo, which joins other card issuers like Chase and Capital One, which have their own pooling programs .

Autograph Journey will be able to do a points transfer with the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card . This is especially notable since the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers bonus rewards in different categories than the Autograph Journey. 

For example, the Autograph card earns unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans, plus 1x points on other purchases. So you can maximize your point earning across different categories, then transfer your points to your Autograph Journey account to access premium travel redemptions.

2. It offers more options for earning bonus miles on travel than some competitors

The Autograph Journey will offer more flexibility than many travel rewards cards when it comes to earning more points on travel purchases. For example, cardholders earn unlimited 5x points on hotels booked directly with hotel brands and 4x points on airfare booked with airlines. 

This helps the card stand out from other popular travel credit cards that offer the most bonus points only if you book travel through their portals. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * only offer the highest bonus rewards on travel booked through Capital One Travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers its highest rate of 5x points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, whereas other travel purchases earn 2x points.

Autograph Journey cardholders also earn a minimum of 3x points on other travel purchases, which could include rental cars, cruises and travel booked through online travel agencies like Expedia and Priceline.

3. The card may grow in value as more transfer partners join

The Autograph Journey Card will earn flexible travel rewards points that transfer to a selection of airline and hotel partners, similar to Amex Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards . While the list of transfer partners is limited, Wells Fargo stated in its initial press release that “more partners will continue to be added throughout the year.”

Points transfers could dramatically change the value proposition of the Autograph Journey, especially if new partners include domestic airlines and popular hotel loyalty programs. 

Wells Fargo point transfers will be available to new cardholders starting on April 4. For now, Wells Fargo transfer partners include the following:

4. You may need to wait to apply

If you’ve applied for another Wells Fargo card in the last six months, you’ll likely have to wait a little longer before applying for the Autograph Journey.

Wells Fargo states in its terms and conditions, “If you opened a Wells Fargo Credit Card account within the last six months, then you may not qualify to open an additional Wells Fargo Credit Card account. We may also limit how many open Wells Fargo Credit Card accounts you have.”

So if you want the new Autograph Journey, you should steer clear of applying for other cards from Wells Fargo for now. If you’re approved and use the card responsibly for six months or longer, you can consider adding additional Wells Fargo credit cards to your portfolio.

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* All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card have been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

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